1897 Houston TX Fruit & Vegetable Festival 1.75” Pinback Button Antique
$ 23.76
Description
1897 Houston TX Fruit & Vegetable Festival 1.75” Pinback Button Antique. Original 1897 Texas Fruit & Vegetable Festival pinback button from Houston, Texas, dated Dec. 6–11, 1897. Manufactured by the renowned Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, N.J., one of the premier makers of late 19th-century pinback buttons. Original 1897 Texas Fruit & Vegetable Festival pinback button from Houston, Texas, dated Dec. 6–11, 1897. This large 1.75” antique celluloid button features richly detailed Victorian-era artwork including fruit, flowers, and agricultural imagery celebrating Texas horticulture and commerce. Manufactured by the renowned Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, N.J., one of the premier makers of late 19th-century pinback buttons. Patent dates are visible on both the front and reverse. Large-format Texas exposition buttons from this period are scarce and highly collectible. Size: 1.75” diameter Maker: Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, N.J. Date: 1897 Event: Texas Fruit & Vegetable Festival Location: Houston, Texas Condition: Antique condition with age-related toning, staining, edge wear, oxidation, and surface wear consistent with a 19th-century celluloid button. Reverse retains original paper insert with partial maker text still visible. Displays very well overall with attractive color and graphics. Please review all photos carefully for condition details. Historical Significance: The Texas Fruit & Vegetable Festival was part of the wave of agricultural fairs and civic expositions that promoted regional industry and economic growth in the late 1800s. Houston was rapidly emerging as a commercial center, and events like this showcased Texas agriculture to visitors and investors alike. Surviving souvenir buttons from these festivals are uncommon, especially in larger 1.75” formats with strong graphics and identifiable Texas connections.
