PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE IN THE OFFICE Through TUESDAY 09/16,
AFTER That Date, We Will Be OUT OF THE OFFICE from WEDNESDAY 09/17 until TUESDAY OCTOBER 7th!!
Ron Will Be OUT OF THE OFFICE from WEDNESDAY 09/10 until FRIDAY OCTOBER 10th!!
So there MAY be SHIPPING DELAYS on MILITARIA Orders Placed AFTER 09/10 through 10/10!!
BUT We Will DEFINITELY Be ABLE TO SHIP Orders Placed Through TUESDAY 09/09,
And MIGHT Be ABLE TO SHIP ORDERS Placed through MONDAY 09/15, But After That we CANNOT SHIP Until TUESDAY 10/07!!
Update 09/09/25: WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH non-PayPal CREDIT CARD PURCHASES!!
BIG WEBSITE CHANGES are in the works and this Issue WILL BE CORRECTED sometime in OCTOBER!!
If you would like to PAY for an Artifact valued at OVER $100.00 with a CREDIT CARD, please email and I will get an invoice emailed to you ASAP!
We are HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR ORDERS during this time, and we will promptly SHIP MOST orders within ONE Business Day of Receipt of Payment!
And, as always, if you would like to fund your $100.00+ order through a Bank that offers ZELLE, ASK ABOUT our ZELLE DISCOUNT!!
That DISCOUNT also applies to PayPal GIFT (Fee-Free), Check, and Money Order payments!!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
We look forward to serving your collecting needs, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
Extremely rare 1905 member badge for the Mystick Krewe of Comus New Orleans, Secret Mardi Gras Society.
Also known as the 'Ball Favor Pin', the ornate badge is a light blue enameled, five-point star with a clear faceted stone in the center and the date 1905 in an arc around the center, and the letters: "COMUS" at the end of each point in gilt detail. Surrounding are smaller raised star embellishments with clear prong set gemstones in the middle of each. The theme of the 1905 ball was The Lost Pleiad.
The organization was formed in 1856 by six businessmen during a meeting in the old Gem Restaurant located in the French Quarter and remains the oldest organization of New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities. The first Comus parade was held on Mardi Gras in 1857 and was an annual event until 1991, except during times of war. The Mystick Krewe's membership was incredibly secret and entrance to their balls was highly desired. One year a group of women tried to force their way into the Comus ball by way of a flying wedge and other individuals have tried to beg or steal their way in - the invitations themselves are highly sought by collectors for their rarity and beauty. The absolute secrecy of its members and activities led to the dissolution of their participation in the parade when the city passed an ordinance in 1991 requiring the release of its membership ledgers. The ordinance was passed in an effort to ensure that the membership and activities of social groups were not discriminatory, though overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court, the Mystick Krewe of Comus has not returned to parading since.
VINTAGE:
1905.
SIZE:
Approximately 1-5/16" in height x 1-5/16" in width.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Enameled gilt brass with paste stones.
ATTACHMENT:
Horizontal pin with 'C' type catch.
MARKINGS:
None.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a societies and organizations collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MBJX16 LIGEX4/16
CONDITION:
8- (Very Fine - Excellent): The badge shows minor to moderate wear, nearly all the gilt brass and enamel details remain intact, overall very fine condition.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
