These are among the earliest character buttons, perhaps inspired by Palmer Cox's Brownies. (See next item). Each is 7/8" and there are 20 different plus a variety of "The Ball Player" with a period following his name for a total of 21, all that are known. The buttons were primarily a premium from American Pepsin Gum, but not exclusively so papers are as follows: Pepsin 12, Old Gold Cigarettes (rarely seen) 4, Whitehead & Hoag 5. Minimal condition problems are a few very faint age dots on Boy Orator, The Colonel, The Dude, The Fireman. Reverse of The Greenie has .5" cello split but the front is Exc. Overall displays Exc. Only the third complete set we've offered.