COX & ROOSEVELT 1920 DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN 'EAGLE & RAYS' JUGATE BUTTON.
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Winning Bid:
$35,695.00
(Includes 18% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 9:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Wednesday, September 23, 2020 9:00:00 PM)
Item Description
The Cox/Roosevelt jugate is considered the most iconic button among collectors of political campaign material. This 'holy grail' artifact is akin to the Honus Wagner T206 tobacco card or Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman. Of the six varieties in sizes from 5/8" to 1.25", four are unique or have populations under three known examples. These varieties have long been locked in major collections and the nine examples owned by the Cox family media empire are unlikely to ever change hands. The current offering is fresh to market having been discovered since our last auction in March. Included with this lot is the newspaper that it was pinned to when discovered in an attic in Indiana.
Details: 7/8" with St. Louis Button Co. back paper. Hake #2009. Far and away this is the most beautiful of all Cox/FDR varieties featuring a waving American flag at bottom center and perched eagle at top. For extreme accuracy we note two tiny light brown dots on reverse collet one on the extreme outer edge at 1 o'clock barely visible from front with both being a result of the photo development process. A 1/64" pin prick at 1 o'clock on reverse curl that likely occurred in manufacturing and a tiny spec of trapped dirt on front at 7 o'clock near outer edge. Otherwise minor surface wear most notably a small scuff at 6 o'clock that is visible only in reflected light. Exc. displaying Mint as made. This real photo design can have varying degrees of contrast and clarity with some examples appearing soft focus and others washed out with a lack of detail. The present example displays neither of these traits presenting with sharp focus and fine details ranking among the most visually appealing examples we have encountered in 53 years.
Why are these buttons so rare? This is the question many collectors continue to ask and one that the community has never been able to fully answer. The best theory is that, given the Democrats 1920 low probability of victory combined with limited resources at the local level, no quantities of any variety were ever ordered, thus making all surviving examples likely samples issued by their manufacturers. This is supported by the fact that no more than three Cox/FDR jugates have been found together at one time and this with collectors scouring the country for them since the button first set a sales record selling for over $200 in 1964, an event that forever changed the hobby. Since then the Cox/FDR has maintained its iconic status. Many advanced collectors spend a lifetime in pursuit of any example in any condition viewing it as the last mile marker to having a 'great collection.' Opportunities to join the elite fraternity of Cox/FDR owners are few, if you have been waiting for such an opportunity, your moment now beckons.
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