Hake’s Political Americana Premier Auction #248 Features Iconic Presidential Campaign Material

Top lots include the 1920 Cox & Roosevelt “Americanize America” jugate button, an RFK-signed poster from the night of his assassination, and fine Anglo-American ceramics

York, PA — October 2026 — Hake’s Auctions has opened online bidding for Political Americana Premier Auction #248, a deep collection of American presidential campaign material with lots closing Tuesday, November 17, starting at 9:40 PM ET. The sale spans jugate buttons from Cox, Roosevelt, Hughes, and Kennedy campaigns; a signed RFK poster of singular provenance; and a selection of historic Anglo-American ceramics from the Rex and Patti Stark collection.

Jugate Buttons

The auction’s headline lot is Lot 324, the 1920 Cox & Roosevelt “Americanize America” jugate button, estimated at $35,000-$50,000. The pinback pairs Democratic nominee James M. Cox with a 38-year-old Franklin D. Roosevelt, then the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Collectors have pursued Cox/FDR jugates since 1964, when one sold for more than $200 at the first convention of the American Political Items Collectors, a price considered remarkable at the time. This specimen is the only variety carrying a slogan, adding further appeal. “It’s always a privilege to offer a Cox and Roosevelt jugate and this specimen is the only variety carrying a slogan, making it even more tantalizing to collectors,” said Scott Mussell, Senior Director of Americana at Hake’s.

Lot 372 is a “Prosperity with Roosevelt & Garner” 1932 jugate button suspended from a ribbon, 4 inches long, estimated at $5,000-$7,000. This design ranks at the top for FDR jugates. An example once surfaced alongside a trio of the oval “July 4, 1932” FDR and Curley coattail buttons, suggesting distribution at an early campaign rally held just two days after the Democratic Convention nominated Roosevelt and Garner.

Lot 317 is a 1916 Hughes & Fairbanks jugate button with stars-and-stripes graphics and twin ribbons proclaiming “America First” and “Young Men’s Republican Club,” 6 inches as displayed. The button features rich color and bold clarity, and is considered among the most prized Hughes & Fairbanks jugate buttons. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.

Lot 254 is a 1912 Roosevelt & Johnson (“Progressives”) oversize jugate button, 1¾ inches in diameter, featuring the Bull Moose logo at the top center and an American shield at the bottom. The button is especially desirable for its large size, clarity, and superb portrait of Roosevelt. This variety is rarely seen on the open market. Estimate: $2,000-$4,000.

Kennedy Items

Lot 498 is a large-format smiling portrait poster signed by Robert F. Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 4, 1968, the night he won the California presidential primary and was fatally shot. The signature was obtained by a young collector who stopped Kennedy and had him sign a roll of posters moments before the shooting. “This is almost certainly the final signature Bobby Kennedy gave,” Mussell said. “The fact that there’s a still photo of it happening only adds to the unique provenance connected to this sad, one-of-a-kind artifact.” Estimate: $5,000-$10,000.

Lot 486 is a rare JFK “Jack Once More in ’64” campaign button, 4 inches in diameter, in very fine condition. Estimate: $1,000-$3,000. Lot 467 is a 3-by-3½-inch JFK “Official Staff” laminated badge bearing the name of legendary Kennedy campaign advance man Jerry Bruno. Unlike serialized versions of the rare badge, this example was created without a serial number because of the close association between JFK and Bruno, who used it during the 1960 election and afterward as a presidential aide. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500.

Anglo-American Ceramics

From the Rex and Patti Stark collection, Lot 6 is a superb circa-1790s polychrome Liverpool jug, 9 inches tall, bearing three transfers: a ship, an eagle, and “Washington Crowned with Laurels by Liberty.” The jug features a colorful depiction of Lady Liberty alongside a profile portrait of George Washington. Estimate: $2,000-$5,000.

Lot 15 is a black transferware on creamware Liverpool jug, circa 1790s, 8½ inches tall, with a George Washington (“The President of the United States”) transfer on the obverse and a pastoral ship-and-castle vignette on the reverse. An elegant grapevine border frames Washington’s bold profile. The example is one of only a few known. Estimate: $2,000-$4,000.

For the fully illustrated catalog and to place bids, visit Hake’s Auctions.