2nd Bn. 3rd Madras Native Infantry, a fine George III or IV period officer’s 19mm button

A very fine and early example of an officer’s silver plated button of the 3rd Madras Native Infantry 2nd Battalion. The 19mm button has the backmark W. & R SMITH with the Prince of Wales’s feathers often associated with Jennens buttons. This is the largest size worn on the coatee and has the design of 3 NI 2BN within a wreath. It is in exceptionally good condition, seeminly retaining all the original silver plated finish, although the field is darkly tarnished [I don’t clean buttons but it would probably look splendid if one did]. The button dates from around 1800-1824 and is the only example we have had displaying a specific battalion within a regiment although I have seen a few others. The regiment was raised in 1785 and the 2nd Bn. was later to become the 73rd Carnatic Infantry. Indian regimental buttons from the reigns of George III & George IV are now extremely hard to find. jun12/1

Lieut. Colonel N. M. Buttons of the Indin Army Vol III (Ref. 276) lists the 2nd Bn. of the 3rd Madras NI as 1796-1824 but does not have an illustration for the button.