I am happy to introduce this Lost George Washington Inaugural Button, and Proudly name this find:

                                                The Heraldic Eagle With Inverted Diamond Shaped Indentees


GWI 24-A THE HERALDIC EAGLE WITH INVERTED DIAMOND SHAPED INDENTEES: This button was hand fashioned in Gilded Brass. The Size is 35mm, and has an R-7 Rarity Rating. This is a one-piece button with a soldered on loop shank. Boldly engraved in the center of the button is a Heraldic Spread Eagle proudly splaying it's wings under an Estoile Type Star. The spread eagle design was chosen to symbolizes America's Strength and Readiness for the challenges that it will face as a new country in building a nation. Clutched tightly in the Eagle's left talon is a small Bundle of Three Arrows which represent our country's Readiness for War. Clutched in the Eagle's right talon is a short stem Olive Branch with five etched petals. which is the Ancient Roman symbol of Peace. As with most GW Buttons of this era, the Eagle's head is wisely turned toward the Olive Branch to reflect our country's willingness and desire for peace. Blazoned across the Eagle's chest is a Unique Style Federal Shield. The pattern shows 29 inverted diamond shaped indents going around the outer perimeter of the shield. The inside has seven horizontal dots going across the top portion of the shield, and six vertical stippled stripes going across the lower half of the shield. Cut out above the Eagle's head is an elaborately designed Estoile type Star. The center has a large incuse Inverted Diamond Shape cut, with a cross hatch within (One theory is that this could have possibly have been fitted for a jewel, such as a diamond. Others believe that the deep impression, and cross hatch was added for a glimmering-bling effect to play off either candle or sun light. Either theory is acceptable in my opinion). Outside of this is a series of short and long lines with the usual Estoile Wavy Lines in-between. Encircling the Eagle around the outside border is a Stipple Ring. Circling outside of this, is the button's unique edge border of elongated Inverted Diamonds. Each one is separated by a series of Quadruple Lines. There are 20 sets of quadruple lines, in-between 20 elongated inverted diamonds.


 

When a New Nation Celebrates it's Beginnings with Reverence!
- The Isabela Collection -

Isabela's Notes: GWI 24-A is the newest re-discovered GWI button that will be added to the George Washington family of Inaugural buttons. This newly re-discovered button appears to be an advanced hybrid of GWI 1,12, & 13's patterns, but distinguishes itself as a new variety because of several design factors. I am going to use the criteria set down, and adapted by A. Albert to distinguish this button into it's own separate class. To begin with, the Estoile Type Star shown in GWI 24 that is above the Eagle's head has a different design from the ones used in GWI 1,12, and 13's varieties. GWI-24 depicts it's own unique type of Estoile Star, which shows a large incuse Diamond Shape with a crosshatch cut within. GWI 1 has a large round circle center with two different pattern variations, either three incuse dots on a circular plain field, or just a flat circular plain field. The GWI-12 pattern has an incuse Five Point Star in the center of the Estoile, and GWI-13 has a circle of Eight dots with a ninth dot in it's center. The second criteria that constitutes GWI 24-A as a separate variety is the border pattern shown along the perimeter of the button. GWI 24 has a Quadruple Line Border with an Elongated  Inverted Diamond Pattern in-between. This is a completely different design then it's closest companion GWI 13, whose sub-varieties show either a single Slash, or multiple Crimped Lines with an Oblong or Leaf pattern in-between. Just these two varying features alone under Albert's analysis would make it a new variety, but there is much more. The Eagle on the GWI 1,12, and 13 has a Federal Shield on it's chest with seventy or so small indented dots around the perimeter of the shield. On GWI-24's shield there are 29 Inverted Diamond Shaped Indentees going around the edge of it's shield. This pattern is not found on any other button, and is completely unique to this variety! There is yet another fourth major difference between GWI 24 and all other known Eagle GWI Button varieties. The Eagle has a unique distinguishing cut feather pattern within it's Wings. This gives it that "Chased" look.

     Mr. Dale's theory was these elaborate Heavily Gilded Design Cuts were done to give the button that Special Sparkle in the Sunlight, or made to be showy for those elegant Grand Balls of the era. The button would catch, and reflect the lit candles and lamps within the ballroom. With this new addition, there will be three known GW buttons that are made to Sparkle in the Light, GWI-7B, GWI-21, and the newest re-discovered member to the GW button family GWI 24-A!

GWI 24-A THE HERALDIC EAGLE WITH INVERTED DIAMOND SHAPED INDENTS

Color: A Golden Emerald Green.
Metal: Flat, 1-Piece, Impressed Design, Gilded Brass.
Size: 35mm.
Rarity: R-7
Variety Type: 20 Inverted Triangles, 20 Quadruple Line Border.
Present Condition: An Excavated Example, Strong Planchet Casting, Exceptional Impressions.
Obverse Button Analysis: So far, this is the only known surviving example of GWI 24-A. The brass planchet is solid, and shows no deterioration or corrosion to the metal. The surface  is very smooth to the touch, but shows a very slight depression above the eagle's left wing. The metal's color has that rarely found aged green patina. This actually reflects the gilt design more in the sun. The button has a few minor nicks on the top surface, but fortunately there are no harsh scratches or abrasions. The Eagle has a strong cut outline for all it's body parts, and the inner unique feather detail clearly shows it's elaborate hand chasing. The Federal Shield emblazoned over the Eagle's chest still has a strong image of the engraving, and gives the unique inverted diamond perimeter clear focus. The seven horizontal Dots that go across the top portion of the shield is clearly shown, but unfortunately they no longer have any gilt within. The finely etched vertical stripes which go across the width of the shield are nicely depicted. The elaborate Estoile Type Star has a nice deep impression, and gives a good clear image of the Inverted Diamond's shape. All the individual Rays have a clear image, and retain all their gilt. The Olive Branch that is clutched in the Eagle's right talon has a clear gilded image of the stem and all five of it's etched petals. The small Bundle of Arrows in the Eagle's left talon is nicely engraved, and shows in detail all the individual Arrow Tips, Shafts, and Nock Feathers. The Stippled Ring around the periphery is nicely impressed, and has a good clear image of the individual stipples. All 20 of the Quadruple Line borders clearly show their individual lines, and show no muting of flatness. The 20 Inverted Triangles Indentees in-between have a good impression, and have a good gilded image. Overall, this is an exceptional Gilt button that is just one of a kind. A True Jewel in anyone's GW Button Collection. Along with Isabela's War Eagle GWI 25, this could possibly be the most important and rarest GWI button to exist to date!
Reverse Button Analysis: This is a one-piece button with a soldered on loop shank. The shank is unfortunately missing. The surface is smooth to the touch, but does have a few minor indents.

Library Records Has Limited Information GWI 24 A-1:
History: Yes          Recorded Sales Price:         Yes
Current Button Owner and Location:     ~ New York ~

Excavated around Hampton in Norfolk County England.~
The Isabela Collection.~

This is the only known George Washington Inaugural Button to be Excavated outside of the United States!