Vintage buttons...or discovered treasure?

Have you seen the TV show Accidental Fortune? We watched it last evening...a first for us.  Last night's episode featured a brooch purchased for $12 at an antique store, but worth nearly a half a million dollars. Also showcased were stories on a Norman Rockwell painting, a rare cello worth 3.5 million {a curbside trash find}, and a bat signed by Babe Ruth. They did a great job in developing the stories and giving pertinent background information to make the show interesting & informative as well as entertaining. I'd definitely tune in again.

But it got me to thinking about those buttons I purchased recently...

 
They were on Ebay and I believe I paid around $11 for the lot of them. They definitely made no mention in the listing of being famous buttons....  {update: oops! me bad. there was mention of the writing. how does "one" miss something like that? answer: "one" only looked at the photos that were a bit out of focus and didn't read the written description of the item.}

...so imagine my surprise when they arrived to read the writing on this card.

{source}   Franklin Delano Roosevelt w/mother, Sara Roosevelt-1887

Is it true? Do  I now own some of Sara's buttons? If so, why didn't Eleanor keep these pretty buttons? I answered that question myself with a little google reading on Sara Roosevelt. And I quote:

 After Sara died on September 7, 1941, ER wrote in her column that Sara's "strongest trait was loyalty to her family. . . . She was not just sweetness and light, for there was a streak of jealously and possessiveness in her when her own were concerned."⁽¹⁾  ER recognized Sara's fierce strength, but she could not love her. "It is dreadful," she wrote a friend, "to have lived so close to someone for 36 years & feel no deep affection or sense of loss. It is hard on Franklin however."⁽²⁾ {source}

Ouch. Very sad actually...if one can believe everything they read {and no, one can't!} Sara might have had some rough edges to her personality. But her buttons are pretty, aren't they?

Assuming of course {and never assume nothing!} that these actually were her buttons someone once tried to sell for $96. The fact that they spelled her name wrong {she doesn't have an "h" at the end} makes one a bit suspicious.

But even if I could prove they were Sara's buttons {which I can't} these wouldn't meet the criteria for TLC's new show, Accidental Fortune. I believe the value of an item needs to be at least $15,000. That being said, I have no desire to be on television. None. Ever! But hubby claims if I add one more item to my craft room I might qualify for the show that came on right before Accidental Fortune. It was called: Buried Alive. It's about people who have problems with hoarding.

I resemble that comment.

Stay tuned. A giveaway is soon to appear.....

Comments

[~*~Patty]

What a great button tale AND gorgeous famous buttons they are Sue! I Love how one thing leads to another and another and !
That is a gorgeous photo too with FDR in his little kilt.
I have never watched either of the shows you mentioned :) ... I am afraid I might resemble the B Alive show :0
You are a VERY good treasure seeker/huntress!
oxo

[Cherie Wilson]

Just love this! Beautiful treasure you found here:) Thanks for sharing.
XO

[phyllis]

Really interesting!!! I think it is probably true about the buttons. What will you do with them?
I have a coverlet that came from Queen Eliz. because of a housekeeper who got it when it got a hole...and it has been passed down thru 3 people to me :) Hole repaired...still gorgeous :)

[Lavender Dreamer]

How amazing! Don't you love the mystery of it all? And buttons....I love buttons and these are wonderful! What fun! ♥

[becky]

Very interesting for sure!! I'm glad i found your blog, it's so inspiring!