February marks the birthday of Ronald Reagan and this February marked the centennial of his birth. At the Indiana Statehouse on Downtown Indianapolis, a celebration marking Reagan’s 100th took place as it did in many other cities and states across the nation. The Reagan Centennial Commission coordinated these events and I was fortunate enough to be invited by Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman to display items from my personal collection for the hundreds of individuals who attended.

Keynote speeches were offered by Gov. Mitch Daniels, who was a political advisor to President Reagan in the 1980s, Retired U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton (R-Ind.), who served in the House from 1965 through 1999, and a young man by the name of Hunter Wainscott who was the winning entrant in a statewide essay contest honoring Reagan’s legacy.

In my role, I filled a couple of 8-foot tables with campaign buttons, posters, White House Christmas cards, brochures, books, autographs and 3-D items including a pair of Ronald and Nancy Reagan caricature house slippers.
My reason for putting on the display was to help in getting the word out to possible new (and old) collectors alike to help to keep interest in our nation’s history and political memorabilia collecting as well. It is very interesting to have conversations with and watch people as they view such a grouping of items and reminisce about days gone by. I would strongly suggest to you that no matter what you collect – stamps, sports items, glassware or even antique furniture – if you ever get the chance to put on a display, it is well worth the effort!

On to the mailbag …

Q: I have recently inherited a number of old pin-back buttons from a relative including early 1900s examples picturing farm machinery, baseball players, regular people and presidents and other politicians. I know you write about the political buttons, but do the advertising and sports buttons have any real value?

A: Well, yes. There are most likely more collectors for general advertising and other non-political buttons as there are political collectors. Farm implement pin-back for example can run from $10 or $15 for common varieties to hundreds of dollars for unusual, graphic and larger examples. This is basically the same rule for political buttons, and I urge you to send me some scans or pictures of ANY of the buttons you have for more help.

Q: Back in 1980 I bought this button in Southern Indiana at a flea market for a buck or two. It mentions Brown County (Indiana) as well as Detroit, Mich., where I believe the Republican Convention was held. Is it rare?

A: Rare might not be the right word, but it is a tough to find 1 3/4 inch celluloid pin-back from the 1980 Reagan and Bush team. Apparently produced by a delegate to the Republican National Convention from that part of the state, it is fairly highly valued by collectors and has sold at auction between $200 and $300 as of late.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Michael J. McQuillen may write to him in care of this publication.