George Washington Inaugural Buttons & Related Memorabilia: Identification, Values & How to Sell
To auction, sell or consign your unsigned George Washington memorabilia, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).
What Are Examples of Unsigned George Washington Memorabilia?
Unsigned George Washington memorabilia is has great appeal among collectors as they still have a direct link to the nation’s first president. Unsigned items may be appealing to put on display or to be paired with a Washington autograph of a similar theme. We’ve sold a range of unsigned items, including inaugural coat buttons, dinner invitations to the White House and funeral medals.
Here Are Some Unsigned Items We’ve Sold:
White House Dinner Invitation — Sold for $5,431
We realized $5,431 for an original dinner invitation to dine with President Washington and Martha Washington. Invitation is blank and contains lines where the guest name, date and time would be handwritten. Card measures 4.75 x 2.75 and is from the 1790s.
White House Dinner Invitation — Sold for $3,670
We sold an engraved invitation to dine with President George Washington and Mrs. Washington for $3,670. The residence of the dinner was likely the mansion rented from Robert Morris at 524 Market Street in Philadelphia, where the Washingtons lived from November 1790 to March 1797. Invitation reads: “The President of the United States and Mrs. Washington, request the Pleasure of Company to Dine, on ___ next, at ___o’Clock. ______179 / An answer is requested”.
White House Dinner Invitation From 1790s — Sold for $3,336
We sold a printed, unused dinner invitation from George and Martha Washington for $3,336. The Washingtons entertained in the President’s House, the executive mansion in Philadelphia, where they lived from November 1790 until the end of Washington’s presidency in 1797. The 6″ x 3.75″ invitation reads: “…The President of the United States and Mrs. Washington request the pleasure of _ company to Dine, on next, at o’Clock, _ 179 / An answer is requested”.
“Long Live the President” Inaugural Coat Button — Sold for $2,928
George Washington’s inauguration of 1789 as the first president of the U.S. was a monumental historical event that some artisans memorialized with the production of patriotic clothing buttons. Some of these buttons contained an engraving of the phrase “long live the president” while others displayed his initials.
We realized $2,928 for an inaugural coat button from the very first Presidential inauguration in 1789. Button measures 0.625 inch in diameter and has the text, “Long Live the President” encircling a central wreath.
“Long Live the President” Inaugural Coat Button
This inaugural coat button from 1789 features George Washington’s initials at center and the phrase “Long Live the President” around the rim. It measures 1.3125 inches in diameter and has some rubbing to letters. Button was highlighted in Alberts’ “Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons” and DeWitt’s “A Century of Campaign Buttons 1789-1889” as an important example of American campaign buttons.
Funeral Medal — Sold for $1,469
We realized $1,469 for a George Washington funeral medallion worn during his funeral procession in January 1800. Medallion was made by U.S. mint engraver E.J. Perkins, and features a bust of Washington with the words, “HE IS IN GLORY, THE WORLD IN TEARS.” An urn appears to verso of the 1 inch medallion and a peach-colored ribbon is tied at top.
Funeral Medal From 1800
We sold a George Washington silver funeral medal designed by Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, MA. These medallions had holes at the top to to allow wear in funeral processions, however the hole of this medallion has been filled. Coin features Washington’s profile and the text, “He is in glory. The world in tears.” Only 25-40 of these silver medals exist today.
Thank you for viewing some of the unsigned George Washington items we’ve sold! Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to consign with us. Learn how to sell your George Washington autograph or memorabilia at Nate D. Sanders Auctions.