Edward VIII, Royal Household button, 24mm, 1936

A large size 24mm officer’s button with the royal and imperial cypher of brief ruling King Emperor Edward VIII. The gilt button has the backmark FIRMIN LONDON and is in very good condition. We are not sure which members of royal staff would have worn this button. The cypher is formed of the letters E R I for Edwardus  Rex Imperator [Edward King Emperor] but unlike the equivalent cypher used by his brother as George VI the I is in the centre. This could have been a button intended for use by Indian staff, such as Royal or Viceregal aides de camp, but the reign was so short, from January to December 1936, that few may have been made and fewer still been worn. sep9/3