This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/1/2017
Long considered the most sought-after Gerald Ford pin, this 4 inch celluloid is from the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City. It was made for Missouri delegates and alternates, who were the only ones to get them at the convention. Interestingly enough, after the Missouri state Republican Convention where 18 of 19 at-large delegates were pledged to Reagan, 30 Missouri delegates were committed to Reagan, 16 to Ford and three were uncommitted. Ford ended up winning the nomination with 1,187 votes to Reagan’s 1,070. Ever since the 1976 election this has remained one of if not, the top Ford pins. We also know of one collector who personally wrote every Ford delegate from Missouri hoping to get this pin. Personally we recall when Chuc Coss put together a Ford meeting in Grand Rapids with the former president. We still have the photograph in our office of President Ford looking through our catalog. He was stunned to see this badge on our feature plate with a $400 guide value. It sold for over $1,400 in that auction. This big celluloid is a rare pin and much sought-after, in excellent condition.