RIDE THE WORLD BUTTON

Q: I'm a curator with my state's historical society and have been trying to identify a lapel stud made by Baldwin & Gleason. Can you tell me anything about it?

A: Baldwin & Gleason Co., Ltd. was a manufacturer of political and advertising buttons, lapel studs, and novelty items in the late 1800s. The company was located in New York City. Although we don't know the history of the company, we've seen campaign items from 1862 to 1900 offered for sale. "The World" might have been a ride at an amusement park or World's Fair. Maybe one of our readers can identify the place.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COLLECTION

If you are considering giving a gift to a museum, historical society, school, or some other tax exempt organization, be sure to obtain a written agreement. You can give your donation with the legally binding requirement that if it's sold, the money will be used for more art or collectibles, not for buildings or salaries or other types of collections. If the museum or school won't take it under those conditions, you can require that the donation be returned to you when the organization no longer wants it. If the museum or school balks at that request, give your donation to someone else. Years ago a serious collector and author of information on wooden wares gave her entire, valuable collection to a local museum to be displayed and studied--only to live long enough (over 90) to see the museum sell all of it. And the museum even ignored her wishes and used the money it made selling her collection to pay for other projects.