After serving as sheriff (see previous item) and President of Board of Aldermen Al Smith ran for governor four times in 1918, 1922, 1924, and 1926. This unusually large 1-3/8" litho has the large imprint of the maker and the patent date of "Jan. 1917" on the reverse. The maker was J.L. Lynch of Chicago, most famous for the millions of WWI Liberty Loan buttons which flooded the country. Because of this and because of the patent date appearing on this item we think it is most likely this button was produced for Smith's 1918 campaign rather than any of the three later campaigns. Paint has just the most trivial traces of wear and remains Exc. The only example we've seen.