C. 1899 ADVERTISING BUTTON PROMOTES COMPANY ONCE OWNED BY NELLIE BLY.
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Starting Bid:
$115.00 (Includes 15% Buyer's Premium)
Bids:
0
Bidding Ended:
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 1:00:00 AM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Wednesday, November 12, 2014 1:00:00 AM)
Time Left:
Ended
Auction:
Auction #213 - Part I
Item numbers 1 through 1062 in auction 213
Value Code:
G - $100 to $200 Help Icon
Item Description
The button is 1.25" and shows Civil War vessel with surrounding text of the company's name "Iron Clad Mfg. Co." Reverse has Baldwin & Gleason back paper with 1899 patent date and button is likely from that year. This company was owned by Bly's husband Robert Seaman. Upon his death in 1905, she took over the company and made very progressive changes to benefit the employees but within the next ten years the company went into bankruptcy. In her earlier years, she was among the first women to work for a newspaper. She focused on women's rights issues and is credited with being the inventor of investigative reporting, herself becoming an expert at undercover work. She exposed the cruelty of sweatshops. In 1887 she joined the staff of New York World where she got herself committed to the Women's Lunatic Asylum so she could report on conditions there. In 1889 she began her famous attempt to circle the world in 80 days which she succeeded doing, arriving back at her Hoboken departure point within 73 days. She is also credited as the inventor of the 55 gallon oil drum. We don't know of any buttons to picture her so this button is about as close as it gets. The image we show of her is for illustration only and not part of the item. Three examples seen in five decades. Essentially Mint.
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