Kelso Burgh Police 'relic' button
 

Evening all :)

One for the police/early button collectors: recently bought this button used by the Kelso Burgh Police which existed from 1757 until c. 1881/82, when they merged into the Roxburgh County Constabulary. In excavated condition, it appears to be a very rare item as it is not recorded in either Ripley, Ripley & Darmanin, or John Green’s book on Scottish police insignia. It is made of a non-magnetic metal with traces of a silver coloured finish on the obverse, measuring approximately 23.5mm in diameter. There are traces of a maker’s name between two concentric rings on the reverse: of the maker a letter “A” is discernible, and the place of manufacture appears to begin “BI” (so probably Birmingham).

TBH if this is the only Scottish button I add to my collection this year I’ll still think I’ve done well, and at a fraction of what I was prepared to pay. So having excavated half a field from around the shank using a cocktail stick, followed by a gentle clean with soap and water, I intend taking it’s cleaning no further for fear of causing damage to what has, after all, probably been in a field for the best part of 150+ years.

Enjoy

Graham

Very nice Graham!

Dave.

An extremely nice find. Thank you for sharing the details.

- Michael