I really like vintage pin-back buttons. When I see a bag of them at a yard sale or at a secondhand shop I pounce on them as if I was some kind of wild animal. And then, invariably, I shake the Ziploc bag in which they are contained, or paw through the pile, and come to the sad realization that I\’m not really interested in charity walkathons from 1986 or collecting election buttons with a photo of a young and grinning Brian Mulroney printed on them.

It is very hard to find ones that suit. In all of my searching I have found exactly ONE vintage pin back button that I liked. And here it is:

I am referring to the big one with the dog on it. 🙂

I remember the day I bought it. I was scanning a glass-fronted curio cabinet at an antique shop. It was nestled amid piles of collectable sugar spoons, tarnished old coins, and Wade Red Rose figurines I remembered my mother collected when I was a kid.

I saw it. My heart skipped a beat. It was MR. MUGS, smiling at me! He was the star of my first grade readers, the Dick and Jane of the 1970s! I had to have it.

Of course, there is nothing more important at an antique shop than a poker face, so I had to gather my wits and check my blood pressure. I can\’t remember what I paid, but it couldn\’t have been more than a few dollars.  It makes me smile every time I see it. This is the mark of a good purchase, don\’t you think?