Buttons of Horstmann & Allien

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 May 13, 2008

Catalog of button backmarks
Horstmann & Allien

Horstmann & Allien was a partnership between the two Horstmann brothers and Henry V Allien. This firm had strong ties to the south and produced many southern buttons on the eve of the Civil War.

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

HotstmannA01 (22mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMAN (sic) (dot) BROS (dot) & (dot) ALLIEN / (dot) N (dot) Y (dot) " dm between two rings of dots, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860.
Tice page 131, item count # 1, [B17-6], modified

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from AY78 / 79, Federal Artillery, eagle "A" button (B4357)

B5108 Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.7mm)

Ref: Albert GI88A4, Tice GI215A42 (overcoat)

HorstmannA03 (23mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN. BRO. & ALLIEN / N. Y " rmdc, additional channel inside the mark, probably Scovill ca 1850's.
Tice page 131, item count # 3, modified

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from MG7, Detroit Light Guard button (B4738)

HorstmannA10 (23mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" dm between two solid rings, inner ring of rays, Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860.
Tice page 131, item count # 10, [B17-7], modified

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from GA4, Georgia state seal button (B4588)

B5107 Federal Infantry, eagle "I" button (22.8mm)

Ref: Albert GI85 / 88 not listed, Tice GI215A39 (overcoat)

HorstmannA10 var (21mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" dm between two solid rings, inner ring of rays, rays are longer, Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860.

Note that the rays on this 21mm die are shorter than those on the 23mm die. If a button is shanked without pressing a well, (button on left) then the rays remain at the full length . If a well channel is pressed (button on the right) then part of the rays will be pressed into the well and appear to be shorter. I believe this is done when the button is shanked, it is not a variant in the die.

Tice page 131, item count # 10, [B17-7], variant

Examples with this backmark:
Back pictured on the left is from VA15, Virginia state seal button (B4645), there is no shank well on this button, so rays show no distortion.

Back pictured on the right is from RF17/19, Federal Rifleman, eagle "R" button (B4880), there is a shank well on this button so ends of the rays are pressed out and appear to be shorter.

HorstmannA11 (21mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) NY (dot)" rmdc Steele & Johnson produced ca 1860.
Tice page 131, item count # 11, [B17-2]

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from VA15, Virginia state seal button (B5075)

HorstmannA12 (23mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / N.Y. " , dm no rings, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860.
Tice page 131, item count # 12, [B17-5], modified

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from AK1, Arkansas staff button (B0039)

B5344 Federal officer staff button (22.7mm)

Ref: Albert GS17 not listed, Tice GS226A10

HorstmannA18 (20mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN (dot) BRO & (dot) ALLIEN / (dot) Y (sic) (dot) " rmdc, probably Scovill ca1850's.
Tice page 131, item count # 18, modified

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from NY20, New York Artillery, National Guard button (B4803)

HorstmannA19As (16mm)

Backmark: "H. BRO'S. & . ALLIEN / (dot) N.Y (dot)" rmdc on a stippled background, probably Steel & Johnson ca 1860.
Tice page 131, item count # 19, modified
(Note two pictures presented because of extreme reflection from silvered surface)

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from AY78 / 79, Federal Artillery, eagle "A" button (B4903)

B5338 Federal Rifleman, eagle "R" button (15.7mm)

Ref: Albert RF17/19 not listed, Tice RF212/215As13 (small)

HorstmannA23 (21mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) N (dot) Y (dot)" dm between two rings, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860's.
Tice page 131, not listed (backmark is listed in Alabama section but not listed in the backmark book)

Examples with this backmark:
Back is pictured from AB3, Alabama AVC button (B4231)

HorstmannA23Am (18mm)

Backmark: "HORSTMANN & ALLIEN / (dot) N (dot) Y (dot)" dm between rings, probably Steele & Johnson ca 1860's.
Tice page 131, not listed (backmark is listed in South Carolina section but not listed in the backmark book)