Early Tin Pin Badges of South Africa

Pierre H. Nortje (July 2026)

A tin pin badge, also commonly known as a pin-back button, button badge, or "tinnie,” is a lightweight, circular badge made of a tin-plated metal shell. It features a printed design covered with a glossy protective film and has a built-in safety pin or clasp on the back to fasten it to clothing. These badges are widely used as affordable, everyday accessories, collectibles, and promotional items.

In 1892, Benjamin S. Whitehead and Chester R. Hoag founded the Whitehead & Hoag Company in Newark, New Jersey, United States. The company was to become the preeminent American manufacturer of advertising novelties and campaign buttons.

The next year, they patented their innovation of inserting a sheet of transparent film made of celluloid over a photograph mounted on a badge to protect the image from scratches and abrasion. A follow-up patent was for a metal pin to be anchored to the back of the button to fasten the badge to the lapel of a coat.

Sources: Picture left, Hake's Auctions. Picture right, datamp.org/patents

The company prides itself on being free from affiliation, bias, or influence regarding any persons, political parties, financial institutions, and businesses. This is evident with the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899 when Whitehead & Hoag manufactured pin badges for both British and Boer sympathizers.

Sources: antiquarianauctions.com, newarksattic.blog and worthpoint.com

It is not clear how the patent legislation worked at the time, but other American companies like Baldwin & Gleason of New York, M.C. Lilley of Columbus Ohio, and W.F. Miller & Co of New York manufactured very similar pin badges during the Boer War. In Hern’s Handbook on Medallions of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republic and the Anglo Boer War he lists various pin badges made by Baldwin & Gleason of New York showing famous British generals like Roberts, Kitchener, Buller, Macdonald and White.

Exactly how many different Boer War related tin badges were manufactured is unknown, but looking at the following collection, it must have been quite a large number.

Source: Angloboerwar.com

Various badges of Boer leaders, especially Paul Kruger, exist, but whether they were all made during the Boer War (1899-1902) is not known. Some could have been made for his presidential campaign in 1898, while others could date from his period in exile in Europe or even after his death in 1904. In the picture below, the badge at the bottom right clearly postdates the Boer War.

After the end of the Boer War, the themes depicted on tin badges became more widespread in South Africa, but remained mainly politically motivated, either centering on political leaders or nationalistic events like the Great Trek Centenary of 1938, the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument in 1949, and the Jan van Riebeeck tercentenary in 1952. From the 1960s onwards, tin badges became more advertising oriented, especially in the music and pop industry when record labels and bands began using them as promotional items. (This and later eras are not covered in this paper).

Political and military figures (Up to the 1950s, the following persons – Boer War British soldiers excluded - were depicted on tin badges, and in some instances, more than one portrait of the person is known. We only show one example below).

Person

Comments

Example

Botha, Louis

General Louis Botha was an Afrikaner soldier and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa. We speculate that the badge was made to welcome him back from Europe in late August 1919, just days before his death. However, we are not 100% sure if it is indeed he depicted on the badge.

De La Rey, Koos

Koos de la Rey was a South African military officer and served as a Boer general during the Second Boer War of 1899 to 1902.

De Wet, Christiaan

Christiaan de Wet was Commander-in-Chief of the Free State forces during the Anglo Boer War.

Du Plessis, W.C.

The picture is not clear but we think this is “Wennie” du Plessis who made history during the 1948 election when, as a National Party candidate, he won the Standerton constituency from the then Prime Minister, Gen. Jan Smuts of the United Party.

Fourie, Jopie

Josef Johannes Fourie was a Boer soldier who later took part in the Maritz Rebellion of 1914–1915 against General Louis Botha. For his involvement, he was found guilty of treason and executed by firing squad.

Griffith, Seeiso

Simon Seeiso Griffith was the paramount chief of Basutoland from 23 June 1939 until his death in December the following year.

Havenga, Nicolaas Christiaan

“Klasie” Havenga was a South African politician who served as Finance Minister in the governments of J. B. M. Hertzog and D. F. Malan.

Hertzog, Barry

J. B. M. Hertzog, was a South African general and politician. He was a Boer commander during the Second Boer War and served as the third prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1924 to 1939.

Joubert, Piet

Piet Joubert served as the commandant–general of the South African Republic from 1880 to 1900.