Before you get started, however, you may want to familiarize yourself with the hobby, its vocabulary and some of its more popular resources. This guide is designed to get you off on the right foot. While collectible American political items can be traced back as far as George Washington s inauguration, campaign items are said to have begun with the 1824 campaign of Andrew Jackson. That is when the celluloid button first came to wide-spread use.
Campaign buttons can be relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire.
For example, most local antique shops and flea markets will have a few items for sale. For the serious collector, political collectible shows are very common ways to acquire items. Dealers from far and wide attend these shows and they usually provide an unparalleled variety of items. During election years, political conventions and campaign headquarters are an excellent source for items. Of course, auctions are also a popular way to buy and sell political items.