7/8" lapel stud with brass stud and tin reverse which carries the incised name of the St. Louis maker W.H. Haskell. Front of the piece has his photo and reads "For President Jo. C.S. Blackburn." Cello surface is just a hair concave and outer edge has two or three exceedingly faint marks that barely show. Blackburn was a Senator from Kentucky and of the 15 nominee's at the 1896 Democratic Convention he came in fourth on the first ballot receiving 82 votes and trailing only Bryan, Bland, and Pattison (see next lot). He continued to receive votes through the fourth ballot but Bryan won the nomination on the fifth ballot. The only other example known to us appeared in a 2012 Old Political Auctions where it realized $411.00. Among the very rarest of the 1896 Presidential hopeful items.