Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   June 05, 2008

Catalog of button backmarks
Firmin & Sons, London England

Firmin & Sons operated in London England from the 17th century and continue to operate today.  Firmin buttons are noted for the best quality of all of the makers, sharp high relief stampings, tight backs, sturdy construction, jewelry like qualities.   

Most information on this page is from Tice's book, Dating Buttons..., the pictures are generally from buttons that I have handled.  

Firmin01As (16mm) 

Backmark:  FIRMINS / (dot) LONDON (dot) " dm between two solid rings, mark is only used for small size, English manufacture.  
Tice page 172, item count 1, with modification

Examples with this backmark: 
B5374     Confederate Navy officer, "CSN", English imported button (15.8mm)  

Ref: Albert CS52Av not listed, Tice CSN202Am2

Firmin04 (24mm) 

Backmark:  FIRMIN & SONS / + LONDON + " dm between outer dotted ring, inner solid ring, English manufacture (Firmin04) 
Tice page 172, item count 4 [C1-7]

Examples with this backmark: 
B5371     Confederate Navy officer, "CSN", English imported button (24.2mm)    

Ref: Albert CS51A, Tice CSN200A1  

B5373     Confederate Navy officer, "CSN", English imported button (22.1mm)  

Ref: Albert CS52 not listed, Tice CSN202A2 

Firmin06 (22mm) 

Backmark: "FIRMIN & SONS / (dot) 153 STRAND LONDON (dot) / & 13 / CONDUIT. ST" dm middle solid ring, flat back, English manufacture.
Tice page 172, item #6 [C1-8], with modification. 

Examples with this backmark: 
B4486     Confederate Navy officer, "CSN", English imported button (22.3mm) 

Ref: Albert CS52A, Tice CSN202A1 

Firmin13 (21mm) 

Backmark: "FIRMIN & SONS / (dot) LONDON (dot)" dm between two rings of dots. 
Tice page 172, item not listed 

Examples with this backmark: 
Back pictured is from SU408, Virginia Military Institute "VMI" button (B5089) 

Firmin99  (25mm)

Backmark:  "FIRMIN & SONS LD / + LONDON + " dm between two rings of dots, made by Firmin, the use of "LD" designation dates manufacture to after 1875.  
Post war "restrike"

Examples with this backmark: 
B4392     Confederate Navy "CSN" POSTWAR (25mm) 

Ref: Albert CS51 similar, CS71 series,         Post War button    

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[Reference to Ridgeway archive catalog of buttons] 

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[Reference to Ridgeway archive catalog of backmarks]

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