Group of nine military uniform buttons attributed to George Armstrong Custer, highlighted by one from his West Point cadet's uniform (Albert SU-6, a rare style which came into use in 1851). Others include five typical U.S. Cavalry buttons (a design which came into use in 1855, Albert CV1–CV7, presumed to date to the Civil War or Indian Wars period) and a Topographical Engineer's button (Albert TE 4-A), a type used until the Corps of Topographical Engineers was merged with the Army Corps of Engineers in 1863; Custer served briefly with the Topographical Engineers in 1862. Two more buttons—an "Ordnance Corps" button and a United States Army Infantry button—were styles in use from the 1850s through the Indian Wars, but more difficult to connect to Custer himself; his brother Thomas Custer, also a casualty of the Little Bighorn, joined the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in September 1861, so it may originate from him. The nine are mounted together on a period 3.25˝ x 3˝ card. In overall fine condition.
Provenance: part of lot 7 in the 1995 Butterfield & Butterfield "Important Custer, Indian War & Western Memorabilia" sale, which lists the provenance as "Acevedo Collection, Richard Reyes Collection, Charles A. Custer Family Collection." Subsequently purchased by Dr. Joseph Matheu in Heritage's "Legends of the Wild West Signature Auction" of June 2013. The "Cadet" button is illustrated in the article "West Point' Worst Cadet" by Duane Schultz, published in the November 2013 issue of the magazine America's Civil War, a copy of which is included.
The Collection of Dr. Joseph Matheu.
