Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   April 29, 2008

Catalog of button backmarks
Buttons of the Confederacy, with blank backs

Many of the "local" buttons produced in the many shops of the south employed backs that were unmarked.  There are many distinct variations of the unmarked backs and the details of construction will offer clues as to their origins.

Most information on this page is from Tice's book, Dating Buttons..., the pictures are generally from buttons that I have handled.  

BlankLocal02 (22.5mm) 

Backmark: blank back one piece white metal casting, integral shank with mold seam running through the back and the shank, relatively shallow concave back, probably Georgia manufacture.  
Tice page 188 item 2 [C3-2] 

Examples using this backmark:
B5277     Confederate Infantry white metal cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 

Ref: Albert CS185B, Tice CSI278B1     

BlankLocal04 (23mm)
 
Backmark: blank channel with ring of dots, brass back, maker not known.
Tice page 188 item 4 [C3-4]

Examples using this backmark:
B4700    Georgia state seal button, "local" button (23.3mm) 

Ref: Albert GA10, TiceGA227A variant 

BlankLocal07 (22 or 23mm approximate, these buttons are never truly round) 
 
Backmark: iron back, weak ring around the shank, no other markings, backs are always crudely crimped.
Tice page 188 item 7 [C3-7] 

Examples using this backmark:
B5384     Confederate Artillery block "A" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 

Ref: Albert CS117A,  Tice CSA243A1 (iron back) 

BlankLocal08 (22 or 23mm approximate, these buttons are never round)
 
Backmark: iron back, weak ring around the shank, no other markings, backs are always crudely crimped.
Tice page 188 item 8 [C3-8]  (I am of the opinion that back 07 and 08 are the same manufacturer, the difference in Tice's photograph is difference in weakness of the stamping, but they otherwise appear to be the same back.) 

Examples using this backmark:
B4626     Confederate Infantry block "I"  with stars, southern manufactured "local" button (23.5mm)  
 
Ref: Albert CS186A, Tice CSI255A1 

BlankLocal13 (22 or 23mm) 
 
Backmark: blank depressed channel, made by Wildt. 
Tice page 188 item 13 [C3-13] 

Examples using this backmark:
B4817    North Carolina state seal "local" button (22.5mm)

Ref: Albert NC8, TiceNC210D2    

BlankLocal15 (22mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, wide channel , likely the product of C Rouyer, New Orleans.
Tice page 188, item 15 [C3-15] 

Examples using this backmark:
B5364     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (22.3mm) 

Ref: Albert CS23A, Tice CS260A1 

BlankLocal17 (22mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, sturdy cast button deep well, shank was cast, then drilled, unknown maker.  This back is found on cast CSA buttons.
Tice page 188 not listed 

Examples using this backmark:
B4609     Confederate general service, "CSA", southern manufactured "local" button (22mm) 
 
Ref: Albert CS86A, Tice CSG210A1   

BlankLocal18 (21mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, deep sloping channel, likely the product of C Rouyer, New Orleans.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B3215     Confederate army, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (21mm) 
 
Ref: Albert CS26B, Tice CS275A1 

BlankLocal19As (15mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, deep rounded channel, likely the product of C Rouyer, New Orleans.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B3842     Confederate army, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (15.4mm) 
 
Ref: Albert CS27Av, Tice CS278As1 

BlankLocal20 (25mm)
 
Backmark: blank with a channel, possible product of Wildt & Klein, Columbia SC. 
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Note that button is believed to have been made by Wildt, but style of button and back is very close to a similar
Rouyer produced button. (CS20).

Examples using this backmark:
B4861     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing left, false three part, southern manufactured "local" button (25mm)
 
Ref: Albert CS42A, Tice CS290A1 

B3829     Confederate Artillery block "A", false three part, southern manufactured "local" button (21.6mm)

Ref: Albert CS116 to 117 not listed, Tice CSA241A1  

BlankLocal20var (25mm)
 
Backmark: blank with a channel, possible product of C Rouyer, New Orleans, LA.
Tice page 188, not listed. 
Note that button is believed to have been made by C Rouyer, but style of button and back is very close to a similar Wildt produced button. (CS42). 

Examples using this backmark:
B5361     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (24.5mm) 

Ref: Albert CS20A, Tice CS251A1 

BlankLocal21 (22mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, wide channel includes the shank well, likely the product of C Rouyer, New Orleans.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5363     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (22.3mm) 

Ref: Albert CS22A, Tice CS257A1 

B5365     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (22.3mm) 

Ref: Albert CS25A1, Tice CS266A2 

BlankLocal22 (22 or 23mm approximate, these buttons are never round) 

Backmark: blank iron back, ring of dots loosely spaced, two inner solid rings, no marks, back is crudely crimped.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5395     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Ref:  Albert CS182A (iron back), Tice CSI243B2  

BlankLocal23 (22 or 23mm approximate, these buttons are never round) 

Backmark: blank copper back, ring of dots loosely spaced, two inner solid rings, no marks, back is crudely crimped.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5414     Confederate Infantry  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Ref: Albert CS182A (copper back), Tice CSI243B1

BlankLocal24 (22mm to 23mm, edges were milled, measurements vary) 
 
Backmark: button is one piece sand cast, back is deep well concave, post under shank, no marks, probably Georgia manufacture.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5394     Confederate Infantry cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22mm)  

Ref: Albert CS184A, Tice CSI275A1    

BlankLocal25 (22mm) 
 
Backmark: blank, wide channel, button was made by Wildt. 
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B4445     Virginia state seal "local" button(22mm)
 
Ref: Albert VA21, Tice VA244 rare variant  

BlankLocal26 (22 or 23mm) 
 
Backmark: blank depressed channel with star, made by Wildt
Note, the star is often weak and it is possible that the star became obliterated on some of the buttons deemed to be blank channel buttons.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B4816     North Carolina state seal "local" button (22mm)
 
Ref: Albert NC8, TiceNC210C1  

BlankLocal27 (23mm) 
 
Backmark: deformed blank channel, possibly Steele & Johnson smuggled button.
Tice page 188, not listed. 
 
Examples using this backmark:
B4449     Virginia state seal staff officer button, nondug (23 mm)
 
Ref: Albert VA19, Tice VA258A1 

BlankLocal28 (19mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, flat surface, raised area around the shank, crude construction, unknown "local" manufacture.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5366     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing left, southern manufactured "local" button (18.6mm) 

Ref: Albert CS41B, Tice CS287A1 

BlankLocal29As (14mm)  
 
Backmark: blank back, flat surface, crude construction, unknown "local" manufacture.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5367     Confederate staff officer, eagle facing right, southern manufactured "local" button (14.2mm) 

Ref: Albert not listed, Tice CS269As2 

BlankLocal30 (22.5mm) 
 
Backmark: blank depressed wide channel with star, made by Wildt.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5452     Confederate Infantry script "I", "CS", southern manufactured "local" button, (22.5mm)  
 
Ref: Albert CS189A, Tice CSI261A1 (iron shank)

BlankLocal31 (20.6mm) 
 
Backmark: blank back, slight concave channel, likely the product of one of the New Orleans producers.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5357     Texas militia "local" button (20.6mm)

Ref: Albert CS31A, Tice CS268A2    

BlankLocal32  (24mm) 

Backmark: blank back one piece white metal casting, brass wire shank imbedded in the casting, mold seam running through the back, relatively shallow concave back, unknown southern manufacture.
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5234     Confederate Infantry white metal cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (24mm) 
 
Ref: Albert CS185 not listed, Tice CSI281A1 

BlankLocal33  (23mm)

Backmark: blank back one piece white metal casting, integral shank with mold seam running through the back and the shank, back is concave with flat area around the shank, southern maker unknown. 
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5183     Confederate Infantry white metal cast Block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 

Ref: Albert CS185A, Tice CSI278A1

BlankLocal34  (23mm) 

Backmark: blank iron back, deep rounded channel results in a back that seems more convex than most and sometimes referred to as "puffback", iron shank, unknown southern manufacture. 
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5497     Confederate Infantry "western theater"  block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (23mm) 

Ref: Albert CS182 - 183 not listed, Tice CSI244A1 Plate E5-12  

BlankLocal35 (22.5mm)  

Backmark: blank brass back, wide channel, often with stamping flaws probably caused by debris during stamping, crude manufacture by unknown southern maker. 
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5125     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm) 
 
Ref: Albert CS182 not listed, Tice CSI243A2   

BlankLocal36 (22.5mm) 

Backmark: blank iron back, rounded channel, crude manufacture by unknown southern maker. 
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5106     Confederate Infantry block "I" southern manufactured "local" button (22.5mm)  

Ref: Albert CS182 - 183 not listed, Tice CSI243A3 

BlankLocal37  (23mm)  

Backmark: blank copper back, with channel, crude manufacture by unknown southern maker.  
Tice page 188, not listed. 

Examples using this backmark:
B5380     Confederate Navy officer, "CSN", southern manufactured "local" button, (23mm)  
 
Ref: Albert CS66A, Tice CSN266A1   

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