Carl, it might read as a spelling variant of mejora calidade, J rather than
L.   Best quality. Perhaps? 



-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: 20 July 2011 14:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Spanish buttons

Hi All - It's 101 degrees here in South Carolina  so I am catching up on
labwork and writing. I have found a typical looking South Type 18 button-
that's the one that is usually stamped "Treble Gilt" or something similar on
the back. That is, a flat, plated button with a stamped back. This came from
a 19th century site in the western part of the state. Only this one is
stamped "...ELHORA CALIDADE" The Calidade part is clear, but I can't think
of a word ending in "elhora". One or two letters are missing. Anybody else
seen one of these? British buttons like this are usually from early 19th c.
contexts. Do they last longer in Spanish contexts? People were heading out
to Texas (and back) from here during the 1830s and 1840s, which might
account for its presence, but no one I've talked to locally has ever seen
one. 
 

 

Carl Steen-