Button Country

An Educational Resource for Button Collectors 

There is something about a box, jar or can of old buttons that fascinates young and old alike.  More than a few of us have become avid button collectors as a result.  

Button Country incorporates several types of resources to help beginners and novices identify and appreciate their buttons:

Classifying Buttons – includes tips, definitions, and more!  The National Button Society created the “Official Classification Guidelines” which is contained in what is called the “Blue Book”. The Blue Book sets out sections dealing with materials, subjects, etc. and also provides an Appendix and Glossary explaining the sections and terms used in the Blue Book.  The Blue Book is available free online (in a downloadable format) for NBS members and a hard copy can also be ordered through the NBS website.

Fun Facts – includes fun button facts, button history and general facts about buttons. 

Button Section Pages (A Visual Guide to Classifying Buttons) – contains more than 6000 images of buttons and button related specialties that visually illustrate our classification system. The National Button Society (NBS) Classification System is organized in easy-to-follow outline form.  The system classifies buttons according to age, use, materials and pictorial subjects. Downloadable Worksheets are available for most categories.

Special Topics – features educational and fun articles on buttons as well as the actual patents for more than one hundred 19th century button inventions.