Hake’s Auctions held their Auction #234 in March 2022. Here we will look at many of the political items selling in the $3400 and up range.

To kick things off was a unique INCREDIBLE BLAINE & LOGAN FOLK ART QUILT MADE OF 760 JUGATE RIBBONS. It covered up one lucky bidder at $3389 (all prices realized include an 18% buyer’s premium and are rounded-up to the nearest dollar.) Another early piece, this time a W. H. HARRISON SUPERB 1840 PEWTER RIM TWO SIDED SULFIDE MEDALLION got to $3427. A "VOTES FOR WOMEN VICTORY 1915" RARE SUFFRAGE TEXTILE showed moderate wear, but made $3438.

crjugate.jpg (710891 bytes)A "VOTE FOR WOMEN 1915" NEW YORK SUFFRAGE CAMPAIGN POSTER AND CANDID PHOTO brought a strong $3440. Measuring approx. 23 x 30 was a BRYAN & STEVENSON EXCEPTIONAL 1900 CAMPAIGN JUGATE POSTER which got to $3570. Another great 1900 item – a McKINLEY & BRYAN RARE "ECLIPSE WILL BE TOTAL NOV. 6TH 1900" pin-back button made the same $3570.

Bringing more than four times it’s estimate was a RARE "ARTHUR E. REIMER FOR PRESIDENT" 1912 SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY" BUTTON which was gaveled down at $4283. One of the best conditioned examples known was a 2" "FOR PRESIDENT JOHN W. DAVIS" STRIKING AND RARE REAL PHOTO BUTTON which found a new home at $4543. Displaying 31 stars, a BELL & EVERETT "THE UNION AND THE CONSTITUTION" CAMPAIGN PARADE FLAG flew proudly at $5841.

Measuring 4" a "VERY TRULY YOURS HARRY S. TRUMAN" LARGE 1922 DISTRICT JUDGE BUTTON with cardboard insert on reverse stood up at $5841. A 1 ¼" "COOLIDGE AND DAWES" HIGH CONTRAST REAL PHOTO JUGATE BUTTON was sold for $5900.

hcjugate.jpg (592740 bytes)Unknown to the hobby was a GOLDWATER "AUH2O FOR PRESIDENT CLUB KEYSER" WEST VIRGINIA 1964 CAMPAIGN BUTTON which was battled out to $5912. "KENNEDY TV 1960" EXCEPTIONALLY RARE TELEVISION BUTTON was tuned in at $5912. One of the top LBJ pins – a "ME AND ROOSEVELT FOR JOHNSON" HISTORIC FDR/LBJ TEXAS COATTAIL BUTTON ended at $6490 with just a little surface crazing. An EXCEPTIONAL JAMES M. COX 1920 "NOTIFICATION" RIBBON BADGE measuring almost 9" high made $7080.

Campaign portrait flags continue to pull strong prices in the hobby. Here, a HENRY "CLAY AND FRELINGHAYSEN" 1844 PORTRAIT BLUE STRIPE FLAG managed $9440. Picturing a very young looking Silent Cal was a "FOR VICE PRESIDENT GOV. CALVIN COOLIDGE" RARE 1920 CAMPAIGN BUTTON which ended at $10,124. A JOHN W. DAVIS "DOOM" TEA POT trhorse.jpg (259456 bytes)DOME SCANDAL LITHO BUTTON found its way to $10,773.

A "DAVIS AND BRYAN" HIGH CONTRAST REAL PHOTO JUGATE BUTTON measuring 1 ¼" sold for $21,233. Hailing from the Wigwam Convention was a LINCOLN: "FLORIDA" 31 STAR AMERICAN FLAG FROM THE 1860 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION which waved to $25,370. A ROOSEVELT "EQUALITY" BUFFALO SOLDIER 1904 CAMPAIGN BUTTON measuring 1 ½" commanded $28,556.

Missing from most collections was a BRYAN & STEVENSON ECLIPSING McKINLEY & ROOSEVELT OUTSTANDING 1900 JUGATE BUTTON measuring 1.25" w/ Cresent Art Gallery, Kansas City, MO on curl got to $32,450.

The top two selling lots of the sale ended-up being matching jugate buttons from the 1920 Presidential campaign. First, a HARDING AND COOLIDGE IMPORTANT 1.25" JUGATE BUTTON which required $51,920 to buy, while the "biggie" of the sale was its mate – the COX AND ROOSEVELT HOLY GRAIL 1.25" JUGATE BUTTON which was described by Hake’s as being THE MOST IMPORTANT BUTTON TO COME TO MARKET SINCE 1981. It’s hard to argue that claim with a $185,850 result!


Michael McQuillen has been a full-time dealer, collector and expert in the field of Political Americana for 30 years. His column Political Parade has appeared regularly in a number of antique & collectible publications since 1992. He invites readers to write or email with any questions or suggestions. Michael J. McQuillen can be reached by writing him directly at P. O. Box 50022, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-0022, e-mail: michael@politicalparade.com or through his web-site: www.PoliticalParade.com