The results are based on his historically accurate, but unscientific, USA Button Poll. Since 1988, his poll has correctly predicted the winner for every presidential election except for 2000. The poll was based on thousands of button sales at political events, nonpolitical shows, sales at Washington, D.C., locations and political conventions since late June.

Warlick is a member of WorthPoint’s expert Worthologist team. WorthPoint is an Internet-based data-and-media company that offers a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles. WorthPoint helps collectors understand the worth of their items and provides expert advice on how to preserve, buy and sell them.

“Campaigns may have gone high-tech, but old-fashioned political-campaign buttons are as popular as ever, not only increasing in value, but helping to predict presidential elections,” said Warlick. “In over 40 years of collecting and selling campaign buttons, I have never seen such interest. The possibility of electing the first woman president or the first African American drove many to people to purchase those candidates’ buttons that otherwise may not have been the case.”

Warlick notes that while Obama merchandise is highly popular, John F. Kennedy memorabilia is still the most prized. Other popular presidents include Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.

What makes a button valuable? According to Warlick, the popularity of a president, the quantity of buttons produced and the design content are key factors. Buttons with photographs are always more sought after by collectors. Buttons that include both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates are called jugates and are highly prized, especially if they include photographs of the candidates.

As for the most valuable button, that distinction goes to Ohio Gov. James Cox and former Assistant Navy Secretary Franklin Roosevelt. They ran against Warren Harding in the 1920 presidential campaign—before Roosevelt was stricken with polio. Although there were six different Cox and Roosevelt designs, it is now believed that all were just manufacturers’ samples and were never ordered in large quantities. Of all six designs, only 50 buttons are known to exist. In a private sale a few years ago, a 1-1/4-inch Cox and Roosevelt jugate went for a reported $135,000.

For would-be button collectors, Warlick offers the following advice: “Casual collectors should choose a candidate they like or admire and enjoy studying. Investors should choose based on past sales history, quality of button and historical significance of that particular election or candidate.”

“In addition to getting campaign-button information from sites like WorthPoint,” Warlick recommends contacting the American Political Items Collectors (APIC), an organization devoted to the collecting of political memorabilia.

About WorthPoint
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Atlanta, WorthPoint is an Internet-based data-and-media company that offers a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles from more than 400 auction houses. Members can share their insights, knowledge and passion and build collecting communities. WorthPoint helps collectors understand the history and value of their items and provides expert advice on how to preserve or sell them. While it does not facilitate the bidding of any items, WorthPoint provides information about upcoming auctions at its partner auction houses.

Contact:
Dan Greenfield
WorthPoint
Dan [dot] greenfield [at] worthpoint [dot] com
(404) 549-6979 x9029
(404) 310-0023 cell

Barack Obama’s election is being hailed as a historic moment. Does that make buying a $100 copy of November 5th’s Chicago Tribune on eBay, with an original cost of 75 cents, a good investment?

Memorabilia from the 2008 presidential election is popping up for sale everywhere, with merchants on eBay offering items ranging from a patch of grass from Grant Park (at one point showing a bid of one cent) to a $20,000 (“Buy it Now” price) signed first-edition copy of Obama’s book, “Dreams From My Father.” But collectible experts say only certain types of items are likely to hold or increase their value. Here’s a guide to sizing up Obamabilia:

AUTOGRAPHS
For collectors, it is important that autographs be authenticated. Tom Carrier, an expert in presidential memorabilia who advises WorthPoint, an antiques and collectibles web site, says that anything with a date and place on it, such as a ticket or program from a campaign event, will normally be accepted as legitimate. But if prices on these items spike, so does the chance for fakes. The value of an autograph varies with what it is written on, and connoisseurs particularly covet clear, vibrant signatures on an easily readable background. A signed, limited edition Obama campaign poster recently sold for $2,800 on eBay, although Carrier thinks this price may subside along with the euphoria surrounding election night. A regular copy of an Obama book carrying his autograph will probably hover at around $200 to $400, says Carrier.

Be careful, though. Historically, purveyors of faked memorabilia have flourished online, where it’s easier to maintain anonymity and keep buyers at arm’s length from the actual product before they plunk down their cash. The best way to ensure you are buying the real deal is to purchase from a reputable dealer with deep authentication experience; experts say that you should approach every piece—and, indeed, every certificate of authenticity—with skepticism. Carrier says he has this golden rule: “If it was not signed in front of you, the autograph was not signed by that person.” A trustworthy starting point for collectors seeking advice is the American Political Items Collectors .

BUTTONS
Partisan buttons are turned out by the millions. But some can also turn into rare gems. The smaller the number produced of a given button, the more valuable they become. Also, buttons tied to key events can be more valuable. Jim Warlick, creator of the USA Button Poll, which predicts the outcome of presidential elections (accurately but not scientifically) based on the number of people buying certain buttons, and a presidential collector for 30 years, says that any button that was produced for Obama’s Denver acceptance speech is worth holding onto, particularly since the event took place on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King telling the world, “I have a dream.” The value of a special button could double in a year, according to Warlick, who currently sells certain JFK pins for $75 a pop.

T-SHIRTS AND NEWSPAPERS
Clothing doesn’t keep well—and the McCain brand, in particular, may never bounce back. And newspapers, despite their iconic nature, are often too common. The New York Times printed an extra 50,000 copies of its Wednesday paper, and the Chicago Tribune an additional 200,000. A newspaper announcing victory for Dewey over Truman in 1948 recently sold for $7,000, but this year there was no surprise. “They don’t have great value,” says Carrier. If you want to keep them for posterity, “store in an acid-free environment.”

INAUGURAL ITEMS
Experts expect inaugural gear will be hot this year. Inauguration day programs and other items, like tickets from inside the barriers, that can be tied to the Capitol on Jan. 20 will likely be most sought after. Police signs from the day of the JFK inauguration, picked up from the street for free, can sell today for $200, says Warlick. Meanwhile, Warlick, a third of whose collection once featured the Clinton cat, Socks, says he found a clue in Obama’s election night speech as to “the next rave”:

“[Obama] said he was buying a new puppy. When the pictures and the name of that puppy appear, that puppy will be on everything.”

Contact:
Dan Greenfield
WorthPoint
Dan [dot] greenfield [at] worthpoint [dot] com
(404) 549-6979 x9029
(404) 310-0023 cell

The Chicago Tribune, Obama’s hometown paper, went into overdrive. “To keep up with the incredible demand,” said Michael Dizon, the Tribunes’ communications manager, “an additional 410,000 copies—almost double our normal circulation for a Wednesday—were printed.”

“Additionally, we will print an eight-page supplement and a Sunday special edition featuring Chicago Tribune covers of President-elect Obama’s career in Chicago,” Dizon added. The Tribune will also produce about 5,000 posters and 2,000 commemorative metal plates of the front page of the newspaper, all of which are available in its online store for purchase.

Other papers printed additional copies

This was not out of the ordinary. The venerable Washington Post also published an additional 350,000 copies, Detroit’s two daily newspapers reprinted a combined 110,000 copies, The New York Times sold an additional 75,000 copies, and USA Today will continue to sell reprints of its Nov. 5 edition. All the newspapers can be bought individually online or at their newspaper offices for the regular newsstand prices.

Washington Post records the moment (left), New York Times: one word said it all (right)

What has proved out of the ordinary is the extended life Obama newspaper collectibles have taken to the point that news stories are appearing about this phenomenon.

A recent check eBay showed 5,417 different auctions of the Nov. 5 Obama election newspapers from around the country in blocks of 10 to 100, individually, or in series of several different newspapers.

I’ve been monitoring the Buy It Now prices at the top level starting at $9,900 for 100 Chicago Tribunes to one seller who is touting a “how they sold a $400 Obama newspaper on eBay and how you can, too” telephone seminar for a Buy It Now price of $500 (that includes a copy of New York Times Nov. 5 edition).

I’ve even talked to a fellow collector/dealer who is aware of someone who bought that edition of the Times, he thinks, for $2,500. Several times over the past few days, a Nov 5 edition has sold for several hundred dollars or more.

There is an excitement now surrounding these collectibles. Will paying these stratospheric prices translate into a sound long-term investment? History doesn’t suggest so.

More reasonable folks are buying a Nov 5 newspaper for $5 to $20 each. That should be the norm. Every dealer I talked to agreed. As the number of commemorative or special editions increases, the collector value down the road will not ever reach beyond the $2-to-(possibly)$10 range. None of the JFK assassination newspapers or magazines (except for a very limited few), for example, have ever attained any values higher than that.

As the inauguration of a new president approaches, there will be additional special editions and commemorative printings of national and local newspapers. The biddings will again be unrealistically high. All experts agree, including me, that you should buy the newspaper as a family keepsake, but pay only the newsstand price, if possible, or no more than $5, if necessary. The long-term-collectibles value will not ever be much higher if history is correct.

I urge everyone to be cognizant of collector value during special events such as this one. As time goes on and the initial euphoria fades, all manner of campaign collectibles will become available at much lower cost.

Does that mean the newspaper shouldn’t be collected? Absolutely not. Collectibility doesn’t have to be for monetary value only. Passing down historical newspapers through generations is a great way to learn American history firsthand. We are all fascinated by the ads alone showing the cost of items generations ago, for example.

But, preserve it correctly. Keep a complete newspaper in a clean, dry, acid-free environment away from fluctuations of heat and cold. That means wrapping the newspaper in acid-free paper, placing it in an acid-free box and placing the box in a closet or storage unit that faces toward the inside of the house, not against a wall that faces the outside. When taking it out, try to limit its exposure to all direct sunlight or any light for a long period of time.

Frame correctly

If you want to frame the front page, be sure to place the newspaper on an acid-free backing and behind an acid-free mat. It should never touch the glass directly. If you use UV glass, it will also help to keep damaging light from fading the newspaper over time. Place the frame away from direct sunlight or near a window and always on a wall facing inside, not one that faces outside.

To relive important events in your lifetime through a newspaper is a great way for future generations to learn what was important to you and to the country. After all, sentimental value is collectible, too.

By Tom Carrier, WorthPoint Worthologist, specializes in flags and political memorabilia

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

That is certainly true now that the United States has concluded its most recent election. The fact that it is historic, in that the first African-American has ascended to the office, also means that the political items associated with the campaign may, indeed, have a more lasting value than usual. Or maybe not.

You see the collectibles industry has certain criterion when evaluating what is significantly valuable and what is not. First, what is it? If it is an unusual political item beyond the normal bumper sticker, button, T-shirt, newspaper or poster, then the item is automatically desirable, and its value is higher.

This collectible, still showing its vibrant colors, is listed on GoAntiques.

Then, how many are there? With newspapers, for example, the printing of special editions means that there are so many more of them, and so individually, they may only retain a sentimental value through the years. A political button created only for the convention has a higher value than one commercially produced, for example. Severely limited and signed posters work, too. A signed football, T-shirt or baseball cap will always be limited to just a relative few.

The baseball sold at auction in September for $414. Check out Worthopedia for more details.

Nelson Whitman of Capitol Coins and Stamps, a venerable political and presidential items collector with his own shop in the heart of Washington, D.C., for more than 30 years, has said that an innumerable number of Barack Obama items were produced. “I have over 400 different buttons, many posters, bumper stickers, programs, tickets and other commemoratives, and all are selling like crazy to everyone in all walks of life,” Whitman said. You can visit Nelson’s online store to get an idea as to the quantity of available Obama collectibles.

Condition of the item matters, too. To take the newspaper example above, if there is a significant issue with a high value, but sections are missing or the cover is not pristine, the value drops significantly. If it has been cut or framed, the value is diminishes as well.

Autographs hard to authenticate

And lastly, can the item be authenticated? For autographs, this is sometimes problematic. I always counsel that an autograph should be on an event program or ticket. It immediately places that individual at a known location and is therefore easily authenticated. A signed photo or any item that was not signed in front of the collector is automatically suspect. It is possible for a staff member, an autopen that signs the signature by machine or a stamp to be affixed to an item that appears to be authentic, but is not.

So, to find a political collectible that will have lasting value:
• Find something completely out of the ordinary.
• Find something where there are relatively few in existence.
• Be sure the condition of the item is as close to pristine as possible.
• Trace and document its provenance so that the item can be easily authenticated.

If you can achieve all that, then you will have a collectible that can be handed down through generations both as an item of family history and as a high-value heirloom.

If you’re interested in this piece of history, more details can be found on GoAntiques.

It should be noted that collectibles aren’t just to look at. Sometimes they can also foretell the future. Worthologist Jim Warlick predicted quietly last spring that Obama would win, as the sale of his political buttons far outstripped the sales numbers of Hilary Clinton and John McCain combined. He has even gone so far as to post poll numbers, based on the sales results of buttons. His USA Button Poll has been correct for every election since 1992 (except for the very close one in 2000). This year, his button poll was pretty close, predicting a 56-44 win for Obama. The actual numbers were 52% for Obama and 46% for McCain.

By Tom Carrier, WorthPoint Worthologist, specializes in Flags and Political Memorabilia

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

Campaigns showed their patriotism during the 19th century by imprinting campaign slogans directly onto the U.S. national flag of the time. That would be considered bad form today, but back then it was quite common. This 31-star, “great star” pattern shows that this is a campaign flag from the Lincoln/Johnson campaign of 1864. What’s unusual about this flag is that the text is not silkscreened or printed on the flag itself. Instead, the text is pasted on the flag with printed paper labels. In fact, it seems to show that the paper labels were used to cover text used for the 1860 campaign. Quite unusual. In its 2007 auction notes, Cowan’s Auctions believed this to be a previously unrecorded textile, making this design quite scarce. The flag measures 8 feet by 12 feet and appears to be a silkscreen on muslin. The estimate of this flag was placed from $6,000 to $8,000. What was the final auction price for this unusual campaign flag?

A. $4,700
B. $6,800
C. $7,250

Jim Warlick.
(http://www.worthpoint.com/worthpoint-worthologists/jim-warlick).
The results are based on his historically accurate, but unscientific,
USA Button Poll. Since 1988, his poll has correctly predicted the winner
for every presidential election except for 2000. The poll was based on
thousands of button sales at political events, nonpolitical shows, sales at
Washington, D.C., locations and political conventions since late June.

Warlick is a member of WorthPoint’s expert Worthologist team. WorthPoint
(http://www.worthpoint.com) is an Internet-based data-and-media company that
offers a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles.
WorthPoint helps collectors understand the worth of their items and provides expert advice on how to preserve, buy and sell them.

“Campaigns may have gone high-tech, but old-fashioned political-campaign
buttons are as popular as ever, not only increasing in value, but helping to
predict presidential elections,” said Warlick. “In over 40 years of
collecting and selling campaign buttons, I have never seen such interest.
The possibility of electing the first woman president or the first African
American drove many to people to purchase those candidates’ buttons that
otherwise may not have been the case.”

Warlick notes that while Obama merchandise is highly popular, John F.
Kennedy memorabilia is still the most prized. Other popular presidents
include Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight
Eisenhower.

What makes a button valuable? According to Warlick, the popularity of
a president, the quantity of buttons produced and the design content are key
factors. Buttons with photographs are always more sought after by
collectors. Buttons that include both the presidential and vice-presidential
candidates are called jugates and are highly prized, especially if they
include photographs of the candidates.

As for the most valuable button, that distinction goes to Ohio Gov.
James Cox and former Assistant Navy Secretary Franklin Roosevelt. They ran
against Warren Harding in the 1920 presidential campaign — before Roosevelt
was stricken with polio. Although six different Cox and Roosevelt designs
were created, it is now believed that all were just manufacturers’ samples
and were never ordered in large quantities. Of all six designs, only 50
buttons are known to exist. In a private sale a few years ago, a 1-1/4-inch
Cox and Roosevelt jugate went for a reported $135,000.

For would-be button collectors, Warlick offers the following advice:
“Casual collectors should choose a candidate they like or admire and enjoy
studying. Investors should choose based on past sales history, quality of
button and historical significance of that particular election or
candidate.”

In addition to getting campaign-button information from sites like
WorthPoint, Warlick recommends contacting the American Political Items
Collectors (APIC), an organization devoted to the collecting of political
memorabilia.

About WorthPoint
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Atlanta, WorthPoint
(www.worthpoint.com) is an Internet-based data-and-media company that offers
a vast database of sales records on art, antiques and collectibles from more
than 400 auction houses. Members can share their insights, knowledge and
passion and build collecting communities. WorthPoint helps collectors
understand the history and value of their items and provides expert advice
on how to preserve or sell them. While it does not facilitate the bidding of
any items, WorthPoint provides information about upcoming auctions at its
partner auction houses.

In the 19th century, all manner of ways were found to show support for your candidate. The silk campaign ribbon was but one additional way to do that. Cowan’s Auctions featured this very unusual and quite scarce campaign ribbon for John Hartranft running on Abraham Lincoln’s memory during his campaigns for governor of Pennsylvania in 1872 and 1876. The estimated value was between $300 and $400. What was the final realized auction value in 2002?

A. $270
B. $575
C. $880

Jim Warlick is a Political Worthologist for WorthPoint. He knows political buttons. He is the President and CEO of the USA Button Poll, which has accurately predicted the presidential elections with the exception of 2000 since 1988. He also owns a political memorabilia store in the heart of Washington D.C., where you can find your candidates mug on everything from hats to cuff links and buttons. In this video he concentrates on historical political buttons.

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Cufflinks, campaign buttons, presidential pens and mugs are just some of the items Tom Carrier found when he visited Political Americana in Washington D.C. Come along with Worthologist, Tom Carrier, as he goes on the antique road to this shop full of political memorabilia.
WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Well, yes. As the Sandifer family was headed to the American Presidential Experience in Denver, they passed by INVESCO Field the day after the acceptance speech of Senator Barack Obama. Samuel, age 14, noticed a large blue dumpster overflowing with the official Obama campaign signs, the ones not used by the 80,000 delegates and guests the previous night. There must have been thousands of them, all in rather perfect condition. All shouting “Change.”

Being the enterprising young guy he is, Samuel urged his dad to stop and pick up as many as they could carry, back to friends, family and for sale on the Internet. At $2 each, plus shipping, anyone and everyone can now support Barack Obama’s quest for change in Washington, D.C., and even help Samuel pay for his eventual business degree at Harvard.

Samuel Sandifer behind the Resolute Desk while little brother Peter has fun below it

Oh, and Peter, age 9, will eventually have his name on one of his own campaign signs. He is the family presidential historian, the one with the most interest and the one most eager for his family to visit the American Presidential Experience. You see, Peter has his room decorated in George Washington blue by choice and has an avid interest in all things presidential.

The future president of the United States, Peter Sandifer, already hard at work

Dad, Samuel, and mom, Suzanne, also have a strong interest in the history of America, which is why both sons share the same passion. These parents don’t have to struggle to tour historic sites with their two young sons. The sons usually lead the way.

See a video of the family’s forays into the dumpster at Sandifer Family Video.

Editor’s note: For their help in this unique “recycling” effort, the Sandifer family was treated to VIP access to the Air Force One and the Oval Office exhibits at the American Presidential Experience and a special tour by Worthologist Tom Carrier, who is a White House expert. It was the perfect reward for two future presidents.

At left, the Sandifers on Air Force One, on right, in the Oval Office.

WorthPoint — the premier Web site for art, antiques and collectibles

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A John F. Kennedy signed program was one of the exciting finds at the American Presidential Experience in Denver in August 2008. Worthologist and political memorabilia expert, Tom Carrier, interviews Dennis from Denver who brought the program to the WorthPoint exhibit.

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What makes a campaign button a valuable collectible? Tom Carrier finds out at the American Presidential Experience in Denver.

WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Worthologist Tom Carrier takes a look at buttons, ribbons and other memorabilia from the 1908 Democratic convention in Denver.

WorthPoint – Discover Your Hidden Wealth

This 1-inch Iowa button comes from Senator Biden’s short-lived 2008 presidential campaign. He dropped out after finishing a distance fifth in the Iowa caucuses. There also exists similar buttons with the outlines of New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. From the time of his withdrawal to immediately prior to Obama selecting Biden as his running mate, this button was worth about $2. Now, there is renewed interest in Biden buttons. The current value of this button is:

A. $5
B. $10
C. $20

This is another one of those lots that come up frequently either at auctions, flea markets or yard sales. Do we want all of them or just one or two of the best ones? Still, it is necessary to sometimes take them all to get at the ones we really want. This particular lot features campaign pinback buttons of several campaigns such as those of Eisenhower, Nixon, Roosevelt, Stevenson, Goldwater and many local and state candidates, too. We obviously want the presidential candidates, but what was the final offer for this entire lot as auctioned by Susanin’s Auctions in 2008?

A. $31
B. $12
C. $92

Two experienced duffers are pictured here. Both hard at work with handicaps and friendship. One, of course, is Bob Hope who always seemed to have a golf club no matter where in the world he was. The other, former president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, playing to the stands as always. Together, they make a great team at a golf tournament in Dublin, Ohio. The inscription is dedicated to a mutual friend and signed by both Bob Hope and Jerry Ford. What was the final auction value for this unique photo as sold by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins and Collectibles in 2005?

A. $260
B. $460
C. $360

Presidents come and go individually, but it is quite rare for current and past presidents to travel together. In this photo, former presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter were chosen to represent the United States at the funeral of the assassinated president of Egypt, Anwar Sadat. Afterward, they all posed with Ronald Reagan, president at the time. While it is unusual for former and current presidents to be together, it is also extremely rare to have them all sign one document or photo. Therefore, this signed photo of the four presidents given to Bob Hope (Lot #106) has a unique historical value. Julien’s has estimated the value at $1,000-$1,500.

The Camelot that was the White House in the early 1960s is evidenced by this commercially produced plate of President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie. There were a couple of minor condition issues with the plate and with some minor rust issues with the campaign pinbacks from the 1960 campaign. Still, for a beginner, this makes for a nice lot for later trading and upgrades. What was the final auction value for the entire lot by Auctions Neopolitan of Florida in 2004?

A. $7
B. $26
C. $20

Throughout presidential campaigns, especially in the 19th century, many unusual items have been offered with the images of the leading candidates and their campaign slogans. This is a silk scarf created for the 1892 campaign of Grover Cleveland and Adlai E. Stevenson. (Stevenson was the grandfather of the Democratic standard bearer in 1952 and 1956, Adlai Stevenson.) It shows the images of both candidates and the slogan of “Tariff Reform.” Somewhat scarce in such good condition, what was the final auction price realized in 2005?

A. $176
B. $90
C. $252

A. $126
B. $22
C. $72

WorthPoint’s political-collectibles specialists—Jim Warlick, Tom Carrier and John Olsen—are set to test your knowledge. Answer the questions below, and win a round of applause if you do well.

A. $33
B. $129
C. $12

This campaign featured Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland. Incumbent president Grover Cleveland won the popular vote that year but lost the electoral vote, something that wouldn’t happen again until 2000. This League of Women Voters-type guide sets up the campaign issues rather well. What was the final bid price for this campaign piece of ephemera as realized by Proxibid in 2006?

A. $26.25
B. $12.50
C. $7.50

This Young Republican 1-inch pinback button is just one of many different, but distinctive designs that incorporate the sunflower. When it was auctioned by Proxibid in 2007, what was the final hammer price?

A. $26
B. $5
C. $12

A. $565
B. $725
C. $1,100

John C. Fremont, known as the Great Pathfinder, was the very first candidate for president nominated by the new Republican Party in 1856. He lost to James Buchanan. This lot of three items are from his 1856 presidential campaign—a printed silk ribbon in black on white, a Carte de Visite (CDV) of a uniformed engraving of Fremont with printed signature and an 8-foot brass campaign token of Fremont with the legend “Fremont Born Jan. 21, 1813” on the obverse and a winged eagle atop a globe with “Our Country” surrounded by 13 stars on the reverse. It probably isn’t fair to include all three items, except this is how it was sold as a lot. What is the value of these three items by Cowan’s Auctions in 2005?

A. $1,010
B. $345
C. $565

Issue campaign buttons, like this Votes For Women, are very collectible. While various countries and colonies gave women the vote very early, the United States gave suffrage to women only after the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920. This plain green-and-black celluloid pinback button dates from 1918 and is in rather good condition overall. What was the final hammer on this button sold by Proxibid in 2006?

A. $36
B. $12
C. $15

Theodore Roosevelt is a highly collectible political figure. This pinback button shows a hand holding five cards. One has a picture of Teddy Roosevelt, and the other four cards have slogans that say “Sound Money,” “Expansion,” “Protection” and “Prosperity.” At the bottom is “Stand Pat!” The reverse shows that the button is “Compliments of ‘The Hub’ Ogden, Utah.” What was the final auction price by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles in 2008 for this Theodore Roosevelt pinback?

A. $327
B. $200
C. $76

William Jennings Bryan was a pivotal presidential candidate in 1896, spotlighting the difficulties of the everyman in everyday life. He advocated changing the country to a silver standard where there would be 16 ounces of silver coinage for every ounce of gold. Although he did not succeed, his slogan, “16 to 1,” still resonates as a powerful populist message.

This large 1.75-foot William Jennings Bryan clock-faced button has the clock hands pointed to the time of 16 to 1 to illustrate the main issue of this campaign. What was Cowan’s final auction price in 2004?

A. $751
B. $479
C. $1,380

JFK was the first president to wear cufflinks that showed the presidential seal on the obverse and an engraved presidential signature on the reverse. Presidents Nixon and Johnson gave them away as gifts. This tie clip was issued as an official presidential gift by Richard Nixon in the 1970s. What is its value?

A. $50
B. $125
C. $225

In the 19th century, presidential campaigns relied on decorative and elaborate banners to ballyhoo their candidates. They were carried through the streets in large parades, hung on buildings or across broad avenues in big cities. This particular campaign banner is from the 1845 presidential campaign of James K. Polk and George M. Dallas. What is the most recent auction value for this historic memorabilia?

A. $225
B. $522
C. $378

Vari-Vu was a political button maker that used a unique twist. Turn its button one way, and you saw an image. Turn it another way for another image or slogan. This is called a flasher button in the trade. This particular flasher button was used in the 1956 Eisenhower campaign. It shows a grinning Eisenhower and the slogan “Win with Ike.” What is the value of this button?

A. $35 to $45
B. $75 to $95
C. $20 to $30

One of the easiest ways to commemorate a political event is with a postcard such as this one from the 1908 Democratic National Convention in Denver. The DNC was again held in Denver exactly 100 years later. The 1908 Democratic nominee was William Jennings Bryan, who is shown on this card riding a donkey into Denver with the slogan “Our Turn Next.” What is the value of this colorized postcard?

A. $20 to $30
B. $15 to $20
C. $7 to $12

And the answers are:
American Politics guide B. $12.50
Presidential paperweights A. $33 for both
Alf Landon pinback B. $5
1908 Yates Republican collection C. $1,100
Fremont campaign B. $345
Women’s suffrage button C. $15
Teddy Roosevelt button Answer: B. $200
William Jennings Bryan C. $1,380
Nixon Tie Clip C. $225
Polk/Dallas B. $522
Win with Ike Because it is not particularly scarce, it’s C. $20 to $30, when in good condition
1908 William Jennings Bryan Not particularly scarce, but still unusual, the value is: C. $7 to $12

How did you do?

None right. Don’t despair. Visiting WorthPoint will take you to the top of the political-collectibles class in no time.

One right. One’s better than none. Try, try again.

Two right. Good job, but keep learning. WorthPoint is a great resource.

Three right. You’re practically at the top of the class. Aim for a perfect score next time.

Four right. A wow.

Five right. A double wow.

Six right. That’s an impressive score.

Seven right. Excellent.

Eight right. You may be a grandmaster of political-collectibles knowledge.

Nine right. Only one word describes this—UNBELIEVABLE

Ten right. You, my friend, you’re off the charts.

Eleven right. We are in awe.
Twelve right. Is there no stopping you?

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