Page 20 - October1997

202 NA\IIONAI, E UTTC}I EUI"N"ETII{ October 1997

had sent to the officers and directors copies of the latest edition of the
"Administrative Policies and Responsibilities" and also copies of the "Certificate
of Corporation and By-Laws." At his request it was moved, seconded and carried
that these two documents, if requested by the members. be available at Sl
postpaid.
OLD BUSINESS:
Moved and seconded that five tables at each show shall be reserved for new
dealers from the host state and its contiguous states, on a first come first served
basis, with no more than 2 tables allotted to a single dealer. Motion defeated.
President Jane Leslie reported on behalf of Maryalice Ditzler that the index of
the National Button Bulletins thru 1996 has been completed. Moved, seconded
and carried to sell these index copies for $8 at a National Show and $10 via mail
postpaid.
Motion made and seconded that the salary of the cunent treasurer, secretary
and editor as well as the contract amount of the show manager be raised by $1000
each and if any change in any of these offices occur, the salary of that office
should be reviewed. Motion was altered by consent of mover and seconded to
increase the three salaries and contract of the show manager by $500. Motion
failed.
Due to the pressure of time the n-reeting adjoumed at 5:30 p.m.
Lois Pool, Sec'retarl

An American Double-Headed Eaele Button
by Bob Moodie
Are two heads really better than one? The ability to
look frontwards and backwards at the same time
must have had some advantage over having only one
head. Such a creature was a popular motif in Central
Europe until about the end of World War One. It is
found on military insignia, coats of arms of nations,
cities, the titled nobility, and occasionally on
English livery buttons. But this mythical bird was
never used in the United States. Well. almost never.
It appeared on a military button of the infant navy of
our country and is described in Albert's book* on
page 491 as follows: "NA 10B, Navy, l-piece. A semicircle of 15 stars, a
displayed eagle with two heads, shield on breast, an upright foul anchor below.
"Gilt"; 23mm (South Carolina)" The backmark is the word GILT within a
depressed rectangle. No explanation as to the significance of "South Carolina"
is given but it may be where the button was found. The button illustrated came
from the Lydecker Collection.
*Record
of American Uniform and Historical Buttons. Bicentennial Edition bv Alohaeus H. Albcrt. I 97(r.