Description: All of these French dug buttons, 20 in total, have their regimental numbers so you can actually follow the story of that specific unit when reading books about the Crimean War of 1854 (France and England against Russia) or the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 (France against a newly unified Germany). I say this because many if not most of the buttons made for the French army in the 1850's were still in use in the 1860's. Thousands of French soldiers fought in both wars, esp. non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers, including French General Officers. The results of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 led directly to World War 1. You cannot understand the First World War without delving into the war of 1870-71 where the French lost parts of the Lorraine in eastern France. Even today many French towns in the Lorraine still have German names. The French loss and humiliation from watching Germans proudly marching thru Paris was an event they couldn't forget- thus the hatred of the French in 1914 when they had an excuse to regain their eastern territories from a now unified Germany. As an aside, the Bavarian region of southern Germany came very close to helping the French in the 1870 war, but Wilhelm and Bismarck were able to convince the Bavarians to throw in with them at the last minute. I recommend not cleaning these dug French regimental buttons any further. Many have clear manufacturer's back-marks / names on their reverses, most if not all have four-post shanks / eyelets, and the regimental numbers on each button really stand out and are easy to read; all-in-all really first-rate buttons you can't upgrade. I love these regimental numbered buttons because, unlike Civil War buttons, you can actually know what unit wore the button- leading to further research. I can assist you if you ask; have books on the Franco-Prussian War. All of these buttons are probably "lower ranks" enlisted buttons. They were very lightly gilded when made but that wears off in the ground over 150-60 years. The PH soil is fantastic in the Crimean Peninsula and quite good in southern France, so many of these buttons show next to no wear or corrosion. The patina on all are pretty to the eye and I recommend not trying to clean these any further. From left to right, top to bottom are: French regiments # 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 90 and 95. All are smaller cuff sizes. See my other Ebay listing for identical French cuff buttons but with lower numbers than #67. It took me over 30 years to collect this near-complete sequence of buttons; therefore I've done the work for you. All these buttons come in a "Sgt Riker" glass-fronted case ready to display. I imported these from France so incurred that cost. I'm selling these below my own cost. It comes to about $ 12 each.
Price: 240 USD
Location: Bedford, Virginia
End Time: 2024-08-31T16:38:38.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Original/Reproduction: Original
Theme: Militaria
Country/Region of Manufacture: France
