Extremely Rare Zachary Taylor 1849 Political Button 12th President of USA
$7,500.00Price
The button is in Excellent Condition. There is some wear on the high points and there is scattered old grime and dirt but it is a beauty of a 19th century button overall.
The scene on the front of the button shows the 12th President of the United States relaxing on a stuffed chair with his legs crossed and his right foot resting on a small ottoman. His whole body is leaning back in the chair in repose, and he is smoking a very long tobacco pipe. Tobacco smoke trails up from the pipe bowl and it is exhaled from Taylor's mouth while he is kicking back as if he hadn't a care in the world.Around this cozy scene is the cynical message "SYMPATHIZING WITH HUNGARY".The back of this unusual presidential button has a completely intact shank for sewing the button onto a lapel or some such. The words "TREBLE STAMP - EXTRA RICH" have been stamped in around the shank to mark the quality of the original gilding on the button.
Details:
I bought this very old and attractive and unusual brass button about 30 years ago in a small antique shop in New York City. I wasn't sure what it was at the time but I knew it was very old and it was political.---------------------------------------Many Americans were sympathetic towards Hungary during their revolt against Austrian rule, and some Hungarian leaders cited the American War of Independence as an inspiration. The U.S. government was appointed as an intermediary in pursuit of an armistice between Austria and Hungary during the winter of 1848-49, but Secretary of State James Buchanan feared that it could bring the United States into the conflict.President Taylor appointed Ambrose Dudley Mann, a Virginian working with the U.S. Legation in Paris, as a special and confidential agent of the United States to the Government of Hungary. Mann was authorized to recognize the new Hungarian government if Hungary was able to maintain the independence she had declared. Mann had gotten no farther than Vienna when Austria defeated the Hungarians in the Battle of Temesvar on August 9th. The Hungarian forces surrendered four days later at Vilagos on August 13, 1849.President Taylor faced accusations from his congressional opponents and some newspapers that he had not moved swiftly enough to recognize the fledgling republic. In a following address Taylor argued that while he had avoided any interference in the conflict he had (in accordance with the general sentiment of the American people) recognized a new Hungarian state.The leaders of Hungary's defeated independence movement faced execution, prison and exile. Hungarian nobleman, lawyer, journalist, politician, statesman and governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848-49 fled to Turkey along with some of his associates. When both Austria and Russia demanded they be rounded up Turkey imprisoned them. The harsh repression that followed the revolution provoked a negative reaction the the United States in general and President Taylor in particular.Zachary Taylor died just 16 months into his term after contracting either cholera or gastroenteritis 5 days earlier.--------------------------------------------The NYC antique dealer said that this fascinating button came to him inside the leather pocket purse shown in the pics. I'm not sure how old the purse is (if it is period or not) but it is at least vintage and quite possibly period (mid 19th century). It is in great shape and has nice silky patina and still smells like nice, mellowed leather. The purse will be included with the button!Zachary Taylor political items are VERY rare.Shipping:
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