SCARCE E.M. LEWIS, RICHMOND, VA., CS NAVY “SHIP” BUTTON

SCARCE E.M. LEWIS, RICHMOND, VA., CS NAVY “SHIP” BUTTON

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$450.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-1679

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Call 717-334-0347,
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A very, very hard-to-find Confederate Navy button. This is Albert #CS68 and Tice #CSN270, a two-piece button 23mm in diameter with relatively flat border of two slightly raised bands encircling an impressive three-masted man-of-war under full sail with an arc of fifteen stars overhead and the letters “C.S.N.” underneath. The shank is in place on the reverse, which bears a raised-mark-depressed-channel backmark reading “E.M. LEWIS & CO.” and “RICHMOND. VA.”

This is in excavated condition, rates good for condition, and shows a mix of dark and light olive green on the face with some strips of dark brown showing at left of the ship’s sails and at right near the inner raised band, two edge nicks at top, and missing a short, narrow piece of the rim at left. Please see our photos. According to McGuinn and Bazelon, Lewis apparently had large contracts for Confederate buttons judging from the number of his infantry and artillery buttons excavated in Confederate camps. His iconic ship button, however, is considered scarce and by some collectors, rare.

Lewis is listed as partner with A.E. Graham as brand and stencil cutters in 1860 on 13th Street in Richmond. In mid- November 1861 he advertises on his own making brass company letters, crossed sabers and cannon insignia, and clothing stencils, but partnered with Henry Kayton as Kayton & Lewis, producing those and other metal items by November 30, 1861. The firm seems to have lasted only until April 1862, when they advertised they would close, with both men joining the military. Bazelon and McGuinn note that Kayton shows up after the war as a fancy goods dealer, but they find no record of Lewis.

This would make a great addition to a button or specifically CS Navy collection with the warship under sail having a good deal of eye-appeal.    [ss][ph:L]

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