For collectors of antique military buttons, particularly those of the Civil War era, there are a number of excellent must-have resources.  These books will help you familiarize yourself with the antique military buttons available.

According to Daniel J. Binder’s article “Recommended Books for Civil War Button Collectors,” the following list of sources are mandatory for serious hobbyists who are collecting antique military buttons from the era of the American Civil War.  Although some of these books deal with antique military buttons from beyond the Civil War era, as well as during that time period, all are must-haves for your bookshelf if your passion is antique military buttons and memorabilia.

If you are a beginner collector of antique military buttons, Binder recommends “Uniform Buttons of the United States 1776-1865” by Warren K. Tice, published in 1998 by Thomas Publications.  Binder notes this one as the “best and most exhaustive” reference related to antique military buttons of the Civil War period.  Not only does it cover styles of buttons, but it also covers the company histories of button manufacturers, their manufacturing techniques, dye varieties and other interesting knowledge.  Additionally, the book also covers the regiments and units associated with certain Civil War antique military buttons.  Tice’s volume is packed with illustrated and photographic depictions of button faces, backmarks, shanks and engravings.  It also features period military photographs to give the collector some context.  Finally, Tice provides a newly devised updated alphanumeric reference system for collectors of antique military buttons of the Civil War era.  He also provides a price guide, however as the book was first published in 1998, it may be worth checking into updated editions or a more recent price guide to reflect current market values of your antique military buttons.

A second excellent reference for collectors of antique military buttons, according to Binder, is Alphaeus H. Albert’s “Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons (Bicentennial Edition),” published by Boyertown Publishing Company.  This volume has been established as the gold standard for collectors, something of “the bible” in the field.  It covers a wide range of subject matter, including all types of American uniform buttons (not strictly military buttons).  It is packed with black and white illustrations, and is the original source of the alphanumeric button referencing system that has since been widely adopted by collectors.

Finally, Binder himself has also published a reference guide which specializes in Civil War era antique military buttons, and is intended as a companion piece to Albert’s book.  “Civil War Collector’s Guide to Albert’s Button Book” was published in 1993 by Publisher’s Press.  The book is intended to help collectors specializing in Civil War buttons to better navigate Albert’s original book, as Binder notes that collectors who specialize in Civil War buttons can end up lost and confused in the sheer volume of material, which extends far beyond buttons of the Civil War.