42nd (Royal Highland) (The Black Watch) Regiment of Foot, brass 20mm

42nd (Royal Highland ) (The Black Watch) Regt. of Foot. A 20mm tunic button with the backmark STEPHEN SIMPSON PRESTON. This is the pattern worn from 1855 until 1881 when it became the 1st Bn. The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt.)  This is very slightly larger than the normal size which may be accounted for by the fact that it was made by an unusual provincial maker, It also retains some traces of a gilt finish.  The 42nd is the only example of a button in this series of 109 regiments which has an incuse rather than a raised design. oct29/12