Hakes Political Americana Premier Auction
Iconic 1920 Cox & Roosevelt “Americanize America” Jugate Button Among Expected Top Lots
November 13, 2026
With politics ever dominating the news cycle because of the mid-term elections, now would be a fitting time to remind collectors that Hake’s Political Americana Premier Auction #248 is online and open for bidding now through Tuesday, Nov. 17. The auction is chock-full of historical American presidential campaign material, highlighted by the iconic 1920 Cox & Roosevelt “Americanize America” jugate button, items pertaining to JFK and RFK, and a fine selection of Anglo-American ceramics.
The sale’s undisputed headliner is the 1920 Cox & Roosevelt "Americanize America" jugate button. Collectors have chased Cox/FDR jugates since 1964, when one sold for more than $200 at the first convention of the American Political Items Collectors (APIC). That price was unheard of at the time, and it made the button the hobby's ultimate acquisition. The pinback pairs Democratic nominee James M. Cox with a 38-year-old Franklin D. Roosevelt, then the assistant secretary of the Navy. The estimate is $35,000 to $50,000. “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. Hake's has sold more Cox & Roosevelt jugate buttons than any other auction house, and in Mussell’s opinion, there might not be another chance to obtain one for quite some time, following the Nov. 17 sale.
The Cox & Roosevelt isn’t the only desirable jugate button in the auction. A “Prosperity with Roosevelt & Garner” 1932 button suspended from a ribbon, 4 inches long, stands alone at the top of the mountain for FDR jugates. Years ago, an example turned up alongside a trio of the oval "July 4, 1932" FDR and Curley coattail buttons, indicating they were likely distributed at that early campaign rally only two days after the Democratic Convention nominated Roosevelt and Garner. The estimate is $5,000 to $7,000.
A 1916 Hughes & Fairbanks jugate button with stars-and-stripes graphics and twin ribbons proclaims, “America First” and “Young Men’s Republican Club.” It’s a large button, 6 inches as displayed, featuring rich color and bold clarity. This large Hughes with ribbons is among the most prized Hughes & Fairbanks jugate buttons and estimated at $4,000 to $6,000. A large-format smiling portrait poster is signed by Robert F. Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 4, 1968, the night he won the California presidential primary and was fatally shot. The signature was obtained by a young political memorabilia collector who stopped Kennedy and got him to sign a roll of posters moments before the shooting. “This is almost certainly the final signature Bobby Kennedy gave,” said Mussell. “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.” The estimate is $5,000 to $10,000.
A 3-by-3.5-inch JFK “Official Staff” laminated badge bears the name of legendary Kennedy campaign "advance man" Jerry Bruno. Unlike versions of the rare badge with serial numbers, this badge, because of the close association between JFK and Bruno, was created without a serial number and has only the typed name "Jerry Bruno" on the center left panel. Bruno used this badge during the 1960 election and afterward as an aide to President Kennedy. It is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500.
The auction contains another exceptional selection of Anglo-American ceramics from the Rex and Patti Stark collection. A superb, ca. 1790s polychrome Liverpool jug bearing three transfers: a ship, an eagle and “Washington Crowned with Laurels by Liberty” features a well-placed, colorful depiction of Lady Liberty and a profile portrait of George Washington. It is estimated at $2,000 to $5,000.
Hake’s online-only Political Americana Premier Auction #248 opened on Oct. 27, with lots closing on Tuesday, Nov. 17, starting at 9:40 p.m. ET. For additional information, call 1-866-404-9800 (toll-free) or 717-434-1600 or visit www.hakes.com.
All images courtesy of Hake’s Auctions.
The sale’s undisputed headliner is the 1920 Cox & Roosevelt "Americanize America" jugate button. Collectors have chased Cox/FDR jugates since 1964, when one sold for more than $200 at the first convention of the American Political Items Collectors (APIC). That price was unheard of at the time, and it made the button the hobby's ultimate acquisition. The pinback pairs Democratic nominee James M. Cox with a 38-year-old Franklin D. Roosevelt, then the assistant secretary of the Navy. The estimate is $35,000 to $50,000. “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. Hake's has sold more Cox & Roosevelt jugate buttons than any other auction house, and in Mussell’s opinion, there might not be another chance to obtain one for quite some time, following the Nov. 17 sale.
The Cox & Roosevelt isn’t the only desirable jugate button in the auction. A “Prosperity with Roosevelt & Garner” 1932 button suspended from a ribbon, 4 inches long, stands alone at the top of the mountain for FDR jugates. Years ago, an example turned up alongside a trio of the oval "July 4, 1932" FDR and Curley coattail buttons, indicating they were likely distributed at that early campaign rally only two days after the Democratic Convention nominated Roosevelt and Garner. The estimate is $5,000 to $7,000.
A 1916 Hughes & Fairbanks jugate button with stars-and-stripes graphics and twin ribbons proclaims, “America First” and “Young Men’s Republican Club.” It’s a large button, 6 inches as displayed, featuring rich color and bold clarity. This large Hughes with ribbons is among the most prized Hughes & Fairbanks jugate buttons and estimated at $4,000 to $6,000. A large-format smiling portrait poster is signed by Robert F. Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 4, 1968, the night he won the California presidential primary and was fatally shot. The signature was obtained by a young political memorabilia collector who stopped Kennedy and got him to sign a roll of posters moments before the shooting. “This is almost certainly the final signature Bobby Kennedy gave,” said Mussell. “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.” The estimate is $5,000 to $10,000.
A 3-by-3.5-inch JFK “Official Staff” laminated badge bears the name of legendary Kennedy campaign "advance man" Jerry Bruno. Unlike versions of the rare badge with serial numbers, this badge, because of the close association between JFK and Bruno, was created without a serial number and has only the typed name "Jerry Bruno" on the center left panel. Bruno used this badge during the 1960 election and afterward as an aide to President Kennedy. It is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500.
The auction contains another exceptional selection of Anglo-American ceramics from the Rex and Patti Stark collection. A superb, ca. 1790s polychrome Liverpool jug bearing three transfers: a ship, an eagle and “Washington Crowned with Laurels by Liberty” features a well-placed, colorful depiction of Lady Liberty and a profile portrait of George Washington. It is estimated at $2,000 to $5,000.
Hake’s online-only Political Americana Premier Auction #248 opened on Oct. 27, with lots closing on Tuesday, Nov. 17, starting at 9:40 p.m. ET. For additional information, call 1-866-404-9800 (toll-free) or 717-434-1600 or visit www.hakes.com.
All images courtesy of Hake’s Auctions.
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