Edward Gorey &
Buttons

Here at Goreymania, it is our aim to create the most factually accurate and in-depth collecting guides into Gorey memorabilia - this means if you spot anything that doesn't look right; if you have additional information; if you have photos to fill in our gaps; or, if you have better photos to replace our current ones, we would LOVE to hear from you! (Contact us)


This Collector Guide was written by Xandy Hand with special thanks to Robert Greskovic, Todd Camp, Jonas Plöger, Patrice Miller and Badge-a-Minit.

First published: 2025-09-21.
No edits.


Contents:



What is a "Button"?

The word "button" as used in this guide needs to be defined since its meaning varies in different countries, and may be used interchangeably with "badge" or "pin".
The word "button" universally refers to an object (usually a small disk) which is passed through a button hole to create a fastening. However, in the U.S.A. the word is also used to describe an object (usually also a disk) with a design such as a logo or slogan, which has a pin on the reverse enabling it to be attached to clothing. In many other English-speaking countries, this is called a "badge" (while in the US the term "badge" is more commonly associated with insignias related to the military or similar organisations). Sometimes you will also see these buttons described as "pins" due to their pin-back design.
Since these are almost exclusively referred to as "buttons" in the Gorey-world, I will refer to them as such throughout.



Edward Gorey and the "Button"

Gorey designs have been used for a wide range of buttons - there are over a hundred different collectable buttons.
Some of the most collectable are the ones manufactured by N.G. Slater Corp. for the New York City Ballet and for New York theatrical productions of Gorey work.
Buttons were produced for Gorey's plays being performed in Cape Cod during the 1980s and 1990s.
There were also one-off or small sets of buttons produced for a range of other customers, particularly for various theatrical/literary enterprises.
The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust has been producing and selling their own Gorey buttons since 2006.
In 2022 there was even been a book produced specifically about the Gorey buttons.
Buttons remain one of the most desirable collectables to Gorey fans, and many new events & exhibitions can't resist creating a new button design for collectors!
The buttons are split into two sections: those designed by Gorey himself and those designed by others, usually using Gorey's illustrations.



Buttons designed by Gorey

This section is about the buttons that Edward Gorey designed specifically to be used as buttons. It includes both self-made examples for Napkin Folding and Q.R.V. as well as those designed for corporate ventures like the New York City Ballet and Gorey's own theatrical plays.



N.G. Slater Corp.

N.G. Slater Corp. are a printing company founded in 1936 and still trade today (www.NGSlater.com) who specialise in creating advertising, campaign & promotional items.
During the 1970's and early 1980's, this company produced Gorey-designed buttons for the New York City Ballet and for the Gorey plays that were being performed in New York.
At this time, N.G. Slater Corp. were printing many other button designs (including Beatles and Kiss memorabilia, anti-drug and save water campaigns, and presidential candidate and political movements). This company is a strong Democrat supporter and all their buttons are stamped with a Union logo ("Union 45").
N.G. Slater still trade in Manhattan at the same address (42 W 38th St Suite 901, New York, NY 10018, USA) and with the same phone number.



The New York City Ballet Buttons (~1974-1981)

In the early 1970s, Gorey created designs (manufactured by N.G. Slater Corp.) for the New York City Ballet (NYCB) to feature on a small collection of buttons to be sold on site (20 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, USA).
These probably started with the "New York Kitty Ballet" designs which featured cats in ballet poses (~1974) before moving onto the "Ballerina" designs (~1975-1979) and finishing with a special design for the Tschaikovsky (Tchaikovsky) Festival in 1981.

The "New York Kitty Ballet" designs contain two different variations of the N.G. Slater Corp. copyright statement. These buttons also seem to have a less professional finish (especially true with the ink blotching/bleeding on the Pink design) which is why they can be presumed to be the earlier productions.

Copyright statement variations:
N.G. SLATER CORP. N.Y.C. 212-924-3133 (Grey Kitty design)
N.G. SLATER CORP., N.Y.C. (Pink/Yellow Kitty design)
N.G SLATER CORP. NYC 10011 (Tinned Lettuce design)
N.G. SLATER CORP., N.Y.C. 11 (All other designs)

There are two major variations in colour (Ballerina in Pink/Purple and Tschaikovsky Festival in Green/Pale Green). There is one major variation in illustration and another major variation in text:
The "Ballerina one-handed lift" which comes more commonly with a mouth but also appears with no mouth.
The "Ballerina with Bat" which comes more commonly with no text but also appears with text.
Although it is not completely clear how these variations came about, it can be presumed that they were two distinct runs. One plausible explanation is that there was an initial run with no mouth and with text, before a mouth was added and the text was removed for the main run of buttons.

Without Mouth With Mouth


There are also some minor variations.
This is most clear with the colouring. Some of the white-space on the buttons appear dull and yellowed and some appear bright white.
Another variation is in shape. Some appear "flat" and the others appear "domed" (this is most visible when laid facedown on a flat surface as shown below).
It seems that the majority of the yellow buttons are "flat" and the majority of the white buttons are "domed", but it is important to note that there is no hard rule for these variations - likely, at least in part, due to ageing/sun-damage/moisture/wear-and-tear/etc all playing a part in blurring the distinctions.

Flat vs. Domed


These buttons (as well as the New York Play and Cape Play buttons) are circular, have a partially concealed safety-pin design with rectangular holes and are 5.6cm in diameter.
The back plate is susceptible to rusting when not stored correctly.

The New York City Ballet Button Backplate Rust Progression




The New York City Ballet Button Collection
Date Description          Original         
Illustration		          Button                   Variant          Notes
~1974 New York Kitty Ballet
(Grey)
~1974 New York Kitty Ballet
(Pink)		 The pink on this button is very variable and often blotchy in appearance.
~1974 New York Kitty Ballet
(Yellow)
~1975 New York City Ballet
(Ballerina with Bat)		 The more common version of this button has no text (unlike all other NYCB buttons), but there is a variation with text.
~1975 New York City Ballet
(Ballerina pre-catch)		 The button depicts a Ballerina mid-air about to be caught by their partner.
~1975 New York City Ballet
(Ballerina leap)
~1975 New York City Ballet
(Curtain call)
~1975 New York City Ballet
(Ballerina legs)
(Image from Goreyana)		 The button depicts a ballerina's legs which I had assumed was in an en pointe position, but Robert Greskovic has corrected me that it is much more likely to be in-flight, perhaps during a entrechat quatre move.
1975 October New York City Ballet
(Ballerina one-handed lift)
(Image from Goreyana)		 The more common version of this button has a mouth on the ballerina, but there is a variation with no mouth.
The original illustration allows us to see text above the design:
OCT.75   BLACK ON WHITE
1975 October New York City Ballet
(Ballerina holding pointe shoes)
(Image from Goreyana)		 The original illustration allows us to see text above the design:
OCT75   BLACK ON WHITE
~1979 New York City Ballet
(Ballerina in Pink/Purple)		 The colours on these buttons are very variable. Some have much more vivid colouring than others, even if both were seemingly kept out of sunlight.
Due to the other coloured Ballerina buttons coming much later (1979 and 1981) it can be presumed that this design is also a later production.
1979 April New York City Ballet (Ballerina in Flag costume) The button depicts a ballerina with U.S.A. Stars-and-Stripes tutu and with U.K. Union Jack wings
This design was likely inspired by George Balanchine's 1976 ballet Union Jack.
Some unconstructed buttons were discovered in Gotham Book Mart's stock (Example photograph in the "Original Illustration" column) which allows us to see an additional part at the top:
APR.79   BLACK ON WHITE   RED BLUE
1981 Tschaikovsky Festival
New York City Ballet
(Green/Pale Green)		 It is possible that there is also a white version of this button, although this might be a prototype.




The New York City Ballet Necklaces/Keyrings (~1976-1979)

As well as traditional pin-backed buttons, some of the Ballerina designs were later used for keyrings and necklaces - although it is unclear if these were actually sold at the NYCB or only at Gotham Book Mart.

All keyrings (as far as I am aware) come with a mirrored back. Most of the necklaces also have this mirrored back, but some have a plain metal casing on the reverse.

The New York City Ballet Mirrored vs. Plain Metal Back
Mirrored Back Unmirrored Back


The mirrors themselves and the mirror rim are prone to tarnishing.
The chains & chain connectors have several designs.



The New York City Ballet Necklace & Keyring Collection
Description Original Button Mirrored Keyring Mirrored Necklace Unmirrored Necklace
New York City Ballet
(Ballerina holding pointe shoes)		 [No photo]
New York City Ballet
(Ballerina legs)		 [No photo] [No photo]
New York City Ballet
(Ballerina leap)		 [No photo] [No photo]
New York City Ballet
(Curtain call)		 [No photo]
New York City Ballet
(Ballerina one-handed lift)
With mouth		 [No photo] [No photo]
New York City Ballet
(Ballerina one-handed lift)
Without mouth		 [No photo] [No photo]




New York Play Buttons (1978-1985)

N.G. Slater Corp. created three buttons for two of Gorey's New York theatrical performances: Gorey Stories (1978) and Tinned Lettuce (1985).
All examples of Gorey Stories buttons I have seen have the N.G. Slater Corp. copyright infomation cut-off, but you can often see the very top of the union logo.

These buttons (as well as the New York City Ballet and Cape Play buttons) are circular, have a partially concealed safety-pin design with rectangular holes and are 5.6cm in diameter.



New York Play Button Collection
Play Date Title Venue Button
1978 October 30 Gorey Stories: O the of it all WPA Theatre/Booth Theatre
Gorey Stories: Opening Night
1985 April 17-27 Tinned Lettuce Main Stage Two, 725 Broadway




The Cape Play Buttons (1987-1998)

Between 1987 and 1998, Gorey wrote plays that were performed in a range of venues across Cape Cod.
Each of these plays had an associated button (with the exception of: Heads Will Roll, Heads Will Roll & Wallpaper, Moderate Seaweed and White Canoe).
These buttons (as well as the New York City Ballet and New York Play buttons) are circular, have a partially concealed safety-pin design with rectangular holes and are 5.6cm in diameter.

Since these buttons are the same size, with the same pin design as the N.G. Slater Corp. buttons and are built to a professional standard; it is entirely plausible that Gorey employed N.G. Slater Corp. to create them, but there is no copyright on the buttons themselves and no known confirmation of this.



The Cape Play Button Collection
Play Date Title Venue            Button            Notes
1987 August 13th-23rd Lost Shoelaces Woods Hole Community Hall, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
1990 June 28th-August 19th Useful Urns Provincetown Inn, One Commercial Street, Provincetown, Massachusetts White variant
Yellow variant
1990 August 17th-September 2nd Stuffed Elephants Magic Oyster Theatre, Woods Hole, Massachusetts White variant
Yellow variant
1991 July 18th-August 11th Flapping Ankles P.A.P.A / Provincetown Repertory Theatre, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1992 July 23rd-August 9th Crazed Teacups P.A.P.A / Provincetown Repertory Theatre, Provincetown, Massachusetts
1992 December 3rd-19th Blithering Christmas Theater on the Bay, Bourne, Massachusetts
1994 July 14th-August 5th Chinese Gossip Theater on the Bay, Bourne, Massachusetts
1995 July 6th-29th Inverted Commas Theater on the Bay, Bourne, Massachusetts
1995 November 30th-December 21st Stumbling Christmas Theater on the Bay, Bourne, Massachusetts
1996 Tragic Secrets This was never performed due to an actor's injury
1997 July 25th-August 30th Epistolary Play Cotuit Center For the Arts, Barnstable, Massachusetts
~1998 July 25th-August 9th Embrace Etceterism Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Dennis, Massachusetts Although this button is not specific to a single play - serving as a sort of motto Gorey adopted for all his plays - It seems likely that Omlet: Or, Poopies Dallying & Rune Lousse; Rune de Leglets: Ou, Sirence de Glenouirres (1998) was the first play this button was made available for, certainly this appears to be the first play where the "Embrace Etceterism" slogan was truly embraced.
1998 October 2nd-25th English Soup Cotuit Center For the Arts, Barnstable, Massachusetts




Amphigorey: A Musicale (1992-1994)

Very similar in design (and likely created by the same company) as the Cape Play buttons, another theatrical button was produced for the production of Amphigorey: a Musicale which was first performed at the Plays and Player's Theatre in Philadelphia (1992) and then at the Perry Street Theatre in New York (1994).
It is often said that this button was produced for the 1994 production rather than the 1992 production, but there is little evidence for this.
This button (as well as the New York City Ballet, New York Play and Cape Play buttons) is circular, has a partially concealed safety-pin design with rectangular holes and is 5.6cm in diameter.



Amphigorey: a Musicale Button
Play Date Title Venue Button
1992 Amphigorey: a Musicale Plays and Player's Theatre, Philadelphia
1994 April 9th-May 22nd Perry Street Theatre, New York




Badge-A-Minit

Badge-a-Minit are a company established in 1972 that still trade today (www.badgeaminit.com) and who specialise in creating DIY button-making equipment and materials. They were originally located in La Salle, Illinois, 61301 before moving to their new home: 175 W Progress Dr. West Bend, Wisconsin, 53095 between 1997-2000.

During the late 1980s some Gorey buttons & magnets (notably the Napkin Folding buttons & Q.R.V. magnets) started appearing that had been created using these tools, and it is very likely that these were hand-created by Gorey himself.
I reached out to the Edward Gorey House Museum who confirmed that they had found some unused button cases inside a drawer in Gorey's desk (sadly these were thrown away due to the brittle nature of the plastic casing, and no photographs are known to have been taken of the contents of Gorey's drawers at the time of his passing). I also have confirmation from Gorey's close friend Robert Greskovic that Gorey had mentioned creating buttons. It is also important to note that the Badge-a-Minit Napkin Folding buttons were in no way professionally created. Many have been badly fitted and often contain artefacts like cat hair and pencil chips inside them.

They all bear the insignia of Badge-a-Minit on the back - specifically written: BADGE-A-MINIT LASALLE ILL 61301 which is actually a less common variation of their address label which normally contains a fullstop after Illinois: BADGE-A-MINIT LASALLE ILL. 61301. Sadly the company are unaware of when they added the fullstop.

Back of Napkin Folding Example with dot


The other important part of the puzzle is that the Q.R.V. magnets (which are known to have been created by Gorey) also bear the Badge-a-Minit copyright: BADGE A MINIT   LASALLE   IL   61301.

Back of Q.R.V. button-magnets




Napkin Folding Buttons (~1987)

There is little record of when, where or why these Napkin Folding buttons were created. However, the programme for Lost Shoelaces in 1987 (at the Magical Oyster Theatre, Woods Hole, Massachusetts) titled Scene #9: "The Folded Napkin". One of the posters for this play contains three of the button designs depicted (Le Papillon Enragé, Le Cygne Mourant, Folie A Deux) as well as two additional designs (a Clam and a Palm Tree/Lamp).

The Napkin Folding buttons were produced in two sets: Black and White. There are two distinct "runs" of both, this is most obvious in the black set, but it can also be seen in the white set.

Black set:
Run #1: The black ink on one run is quite patchy (especially noticeable around the text) with paper-white backing. There are often rust marks (this is likely due to glue seeping through) showing through the white space.
Run #2: The black ink on the other run is much more vibrant without any printing-patchiness, the white-space appears much more creamy in colour and rarely appears with rust markings.

Black - Run #1 Black - Run #2


White set:
Run #1: The backing paper on one run has faint blue lines (this is likely due to glue seeping through) running through the white space
Run #2: The other run has none of these blue lines.

White - Run #1 White - Run #2


It can be assumed that the more professional printed designs came later, and the poorer quality were the initial tester run.
Another piece of evidence is one small variation of the text. FOLIE À DEUX (with grave accent) on the poorer quality version compared to FOLIE A DEUX (with no accent) on the more polished version. Both are acceptable ways to spelling.

These buttons are circular, have a partially concealed safety-pin button design with round holes and are 5.9cm in diameter.
The back plate is susceptible to rusting when not stored correctly.

The Napkin Folding Button Backplate Rust Progression




The Napkin Folding Button Collection
Title Button Run #1 Button Run #2 Notes
Folie À Deux / Folie A Deux
(Madness for Two)		 Note that the "À" of "A Deux" becomes an "A" with no grave accent
Folie À Deux translates to "Madness for Two" which means a Shared Delusion.
L'Entonnoir
(The Funnel)
Le Chat Endormi
(The Sleeping Cat)
Le Cygne Mourant
(Left facing)
(The Dying Swan)
Le Cygne Mourant
(Right facing)
(The Dying Swan)
Le Papillon Enragé
(The Angry Butterfly)
La Carte de Visite
(The Visiting Card)
La Limace
(The Slug)
La Panais
(The Parsnip)
La Trompe
(The Trunk)
Le Caoutchouc
(The Wellington Boot)		 [No Image] "Caoutchouc" directly translates to "Rubber" but this is a term also used for Wellington Boots.




Don't Judge a Bork By His Cover Button (~1987)

The Don't Judge a Bork By His Cover button is likely a slogan to do with Judge Robert Bork's (1927-2012) nomination to the US Supreme Court in 1987. This nomination was rejected after a highly controversial Senate confirmation hearing.
Exactly what this slogan meant is unclear.
It is very likely this button was created with Badge-A-Minit equipment, although I have not been able to confirm this. Only one known example exists.

The Don't Judge a Bork By His Cover Button

(Photo from Always One Button Short)




Q.R.V. Button-Magnets (~1988)

The Q.R.V. button-magnets are a set of 12 designs that have been hand coloured with various shades of bronze, silver or gold metallic ink.
The set were produced using Badge-A-Minit equipment who also offer up magnet making equipment as part of some of their button making kits. Instead of a pin-back design they have a small square magnet mounted to the back-plate.
The first 10 Q.R.V. button-magnets that came to the open market were offered by Anne Bromer. Anne and David Bromer were the publishers & binders of the miniature book Q.R.V. 1989 in which a special Deluxe version of 120 exist that were hand-coloured by Gorey with gold, silver, and bronze ink. The story goes that whilst visiting Gorey at his home Anne spotted 10 of these Q.R.V. magnets on his fridge. Gorey explained that he had been using these to visualise the different inks that he would go on to use to hand-colour the Deluxe Q.R.V..
These first 10 magnets would be offered up in Bromer Booksellers Catalog 113 (2001) for $1500 each.
It would take twenty years before any more of these button-magnets would be discovered. 45 were offered up in a single lot by Ashcroft & Moore whilst selling off parts of the Gotham Book Mart stock. This lot sold for $1200 with a 25% premium.
These button-magnets are circular, have a small square magnet and are 6.0cm diameter.

The Q.R.V. Designs Q.R.V. Colours Q.R.V. Back

(Photos from Todd Camp)
(Photos from Patrice Miller)
(Photos from Todd Camp)




Buttons designed by others

This section is about the buttons that Edward Gorey was not involved in designing. The majority were created using iconic Gorey illustrations. They were designed for things like exhibitions, events, and publicity and were either made to create revenue or given away as freebies.



thus spoke Edward Gorey Button (~1977)

The thus spoke Edward Gorey button is probably a one-off button used to publicise Gorey himself. There are photos of Gorey wearing this button during (what Robert Greskovic discovered to be) the 1977 interview Gorey gave to WWD magazine, which featured in: Women's Wear Daily - Tuesday, April 12, 1977. The photos were taken by Bill Yoscary (Bill Yoscary Photography 108 west 45 th 869-8545).
This (probably unique) button was sold as part of group of thirteen buttons at the Ashcroft & Moore: Gotham Book Mart auctions along with six Treehorn buttons and six other buttons for only $170.
The button is circular and appears to be roughly ~5.6cm in diameter.

The thus spoke Edward Gorey Button

(Photo from Ashcroft & Moore auction)




Edward Gorey wearing the thus spoke Edward Gorey Button

(Photo from Robert Greskovic)
(Photo from Patrice Miller)




Treehorn Buttons (~1971-1981)

Florence Parry Heide was a successful American children's author. Her most famous books are about the adventures of a boy named Treehorn: The Shrinking of Treehorn (1971), Treehorn's Treasure (1981), and Treehorn's Wish (1986), all of which were illustrated by Gorey.
Three buttons were produced using only illustrations from The Shrinking of Treehorn so it is likely the buttons were produced between 1971 and 1981 but no exact date is known.
These buttons are circular, have a partially concealed safety-pin button design with two different shaped rectangular holes (larger, more square on the left and smaller, more rectangular on the right) and are 6.4cm diameter.



The Treehorn Button Collection
I Love You
Treehorn 		I'll
Take
Treehorn 		A penny
for your thoughts
Treehorn 		Button Back

(Photo from Ashcroft & Moore auction)
(Photo from Ashcroft & Moore auction)




That's Me Remarkable Button (Date unknown)

The Remarkable Book Shop was a bookshop established at 177 Main Street, Westport, Connecticut by Esther Kramer in 1963 and it would remain open until 1995.
It became a community hub for writers and artists. Edward Gorey often visited and was said to be pleased that the front of the shop featured a very large version of his cover illustration from John Ciardi's The Man Who Sang the Sillies (1961). This illustration was locally named The Remarkable Man and became the mascot of the bookshop. Memories of the bookshop can be found at remarkablebookshop.wordpress.com. The button uses The Remarkable Man illustration with the slogan "THAT'S ME REMARKABLE". The date is not known.
This button is circular, has an exposed pin design and is circular of 5.0cm diameter (though the pin is so long it extends an extra 0.5cm).



That's Me Remarkable Button
Text Button Front Button Back
THAT'S ME
REMARKABLE




Dead Ends (1991)

In 1991, the book Dead Ends: An Irreverent Field Guide to the Graves of the Famous by David Cross & Robert Bent was published by Plume, together with a map. Both had an Edward Gorey cover illustration.
A promotional pack was produced using the slogan "Who's buried in your backyard" with cardboard display card and a button. The display card features the Gorey cover illustration.

Dead Ends Collection


Although it is fairly unlikely that the illustration on this button is by Gorey (and the text is not hand drawn), I am adding it here for completeness.
This button is rectangular, has a partially concealed safety-pin button design with rectangular holes and is 7.0cm x 4.4cm in size.

Dead Ends
Text Button Front Button Back
Who's buried
in your
backyard?

DEAD
ENDS

Plume




Kidstamps: Dracula Buttons (2006)

In 2006 Kidstamps (who had created other merchandise for Gorey throughout the 1990s, notably: Rubber Stamps, T-Shirts and Mugs) designed 4 small Dracula themed buttons which were presented in a plastic bag with backing board. These buttons were not sold separately.
This coincided with a Dracula exhibit at The Edward Gorey House which ran from Summer 2006 until December 17th 2006. Although these buttons were on sale at the exhibit it is not believed that they were produced specifically for it.
The copyright infomation appears on the back of the buttons on white paper, it appears to have two different sized fonts and says:
Copyright
Edward Gorey Charitable Trust
for Kidstamps

Dracula Button backs
Font size 1 Font size 2


These buttons are circular, have a single bent wire pin-back design and are 2.4cm in diameter.



Edward Gorey's Dracula




エドワード・ゴーリーの優雅な秘密 (Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey) Buttons (2016)

エドワード・ゴーリーの優雅な秘密 (Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey) was an exhibition which first travelled the US (~2009-2011) before travelling across Japan (~2016-2019).
Two buttons were created for this touring exhibition in Japan. These buttons were also adapted to be used as hair-ties.



エドワード・ゴーリーの優雅な秘密 Buttons
Dong with a Luminous Nose Cat Button Back

(Photo from December 2019 MOE magazine)
(Photo from December 2019 MOE magazine)		 (No Image)


エドワード・ゴーリーの優雅な秘密 Hair-tie Buttons

(Photo from August 2018 MOE magazine)




Gorey Store Buttons (2018)

In 2018 the Gorey Store (originally named: GoreyStore.com, now forwarding to shop.EdwardGorey.org) started producing many miniature buttons and some full sized buttons, with recognisable Gorey book covers and characters and then reproductions of Gorey theatrical buttons.
All these buttons contain the same text (mostly with unique item IDs) along the bottom edge: "© 2018 Edward Gorey Trust / www.goreystore.com   Item IE-430##   Share a photo on Instagram #goreystore"
The large buttons are circular, have a concealed safety-pin design with oval holes and are 5.5cm in diameter.
The small buttons are circular, have a single bent wire pin-back design and are 2.5cm in diameter.

Large Button Back Small Button Back




The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust 2018 Buttons
Description ID Button
The Doubtful Guest (Large) IE-43051
The Doubtful Guest (Small) IE-43051
The Gashlycrumb Tinies (Small) IE-43052
Stuffed Elephants (Small) IE-43052
Tragic Secrets (Small) IE-43055
Crazed Teacups (Small) IE-43058
Flapping Ankles (Small) IE-43060
Amphigorey (Small) IE-43062
Gorey Stories: O the of it all (Small) IE-43062
English Soup (Small) IE-43064
Blithering Christmas (Small) IE-43066
Chinese Gossip (Small) IE-43067
Embrace Etceterism (Small) IE-43067
Epistolatory Play (Small) IE-43067
Inverted Commas (Small) IE-43067
Tinned Lettuce (Small) IE-43067
Useful Urns (Small) IE-43067




The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust 2018 Buttons sets
Description IDs Buttons Notes
Edward Gorey "Plays" Pin Set
(Complete)		 IE-43053
IE-43055
IE-43058
IE-43060
IE-43062
IE-43064
IE-43066
IE-43067		 (Photo from Goreystore.com)
    A collection of 15 different small reproductions of classic Gorey play buttons designs:
  • Stuffed Elephants (#IE-43053)
  • Tragic Secrets (#IE-43055)
  • Crazed Teacups (#IE-43058)
  • Flapping Ankles (#IE-43060)
  • Amphigorey (#IE-43062)
  • Gorey Stories: O the of it all (#IE-43062)
  • English Soup (#IE-43064)
  • Blithering Christmas (#IE-43066)
  • Useful Urns (#IE-43067)
  • Chinese Gossip (#IE-43067)
  • Embrace Etceterism (#IE-43067)
  • Epistolatory Play (#IE-43067)
  • Tinned Lettuce (#IE-43067)
  • Inverted Commas (#IE-43067)
    • The buttons all have the following text at the bottom: "© 2018 Edward Gorey Trust / www.goreystore.com   Item IE-430##   Share a photo on Instagram #goreystore"
Edward Gorey "Plays" Pin Set
(Incomplete)		 IE-43053
IE-43058
IE-43060
IE-43062
IE-43064
IE-43066
IE-43067
    This collection was meant to always include 15 different small reproductions of classic Gorey play buttons, however some packs contained a random selection of buttons; for instance, the example shown here has only 14 buttons with multiple repeated designs:
  • 1 x Stuffed Elephants (#IE-43053)
  • 2 x Crazed Teacups (#IE-43058)
  • 1 x Flapping Ankles (#IE-43060)
  • 1 x Amphigorey (#IE-43062)
  • 1 x English Soup (#IE-43064)
  • 1 x Blithering Christmas (#IE-43066)
  • 3 x Useful Urns (#IE-43067)
  • 1 x Chinese Gossip (#IE-43067)
  • 1 x Embrace Etceterism (#IE-43067)
  • 1 x Epistolatory Play (#IE-43067)
  • 1 x Tinned Lettuce (#IE-43067)
    • The missing buttons in the set are: Tragic Secrets (#IE-43055), Inverted Commas (#IE-43067), Gorey Stories: O the of it all (#IE-43062).
    The buttons all have the following text at the bottom: "© 2018 Edward Gorey Trust / www.goreystore.com   Item IE-430##   Share a photo on Instagram #goreystore"




Gorey's Worlds Buttons (2018)

Gorey’s Worlds was an exhibition hosted by The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103) between February 10th and May 6th, 2018.
As well as creating a book entitled Gorey's Worlds they also created 26 Figbash Alphabet buttons which were both sold individually and as sets.
Each button is stamped with: #427XX An Edward Gorey™ Licensed Product/www.goreystore.com.
The buttons are numbered consecutively starting with #42763 for "A" through to #42788 for "Z".
Gorey's Worlds Figbash Alphabet Button Set

(Photos from @zagavabooks / Jonas Plöger)




Always One Button Short (2022)

Always One Button Short: The Buttons of Edward Gorey is a book designed & compiled by Jonas Plöger (Ploeger), published by Pomegranate (Item No. A298, ISBN13: 978-1-0875-0586-2) in hardback form in 2022.
There is a special lettered (A-Z) Zagava (Jonas' publishing company) bound edition which has a metal "button" attached to the front; this was actually the initial concept for the book.
The book contains a large photo of a different button on each page, with some examples of variations either side of the main photo.

Always One Button Short
Lettered Edition
Zagava / Pomegranate
February 2023
First Edition
Pomegranate
2022		 -


Additionally, as part of a promotional deal, if you bought the book directly from Pomegranate in the first few months, you would received one of three re-creations of classic Gorey buttons.
These buttons are circular, have a single bent wire pin-back design and are ~2.6cm in diameter.

Always One Button Short: Promotional Buttons
New York Kitty Ballet (Pink) New York City Ballet (Pink) Tragic Secrets Button Back




The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust Buttons (2023-2024)

The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust was set up by Gorey in his will as "the sole owner of his intellectual property and charging it to benefit organizations whose primary purpose is the welfare of animals" (edwardgorey.org).

In 2023 The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust started producing quarterly buttons, with more uncommon Gorey work - sometimes only a small detail from a larger illustration.
All these buttons are tagged with an EGCT copyright, although finding it can be difficult.
The buttons were sold exclusively on eBay (under the username: theedwardgoreycharitabletrust) and were listed for either $14.99 (the West Wing candle) or $15.99 (the other three).
These buttons are circular, have a concealed safety-pin design with circular holes and are 3.2cm in diameter.

2023-2024 Button Back




The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust 2023-2024 Buttons
Description Date Button Notes
Iron Tonic moon 2023 Labelled "EGCT 2023" on the bottom-right in small partially obscured text. This was the first in the set of 2023 buttons created by the EGCT.
The design features an illustration of a moon from The Iron Tonic.
I hope that you are pleased to see
This card that comes to you from me.		 2023 Labelled "EGCT 2023" on the bottom-right in very small text. This was the second in the set of 2023 buttons created by the EGCT.
The design features an illustration from a set of 12 Gorey postcards.
West Wing candle 2023 Labelled "EGCT 2023" on the right edge in larger text. This was the third in the set of 2023 buttons created by the EGCT.
The design features an illustration of a floating candle from The West Wing.
Gilded Bat ballerina 2024 Labelled "EGCT 2024" near the bottom edge. This was the first and only button created by the EGCT in 2024.
The design features an illustration of a ballerina en pointe from The Gilded Bat's original publication in Ballet Review (1966).




Trey McIntyre Project (TMP) Buttons (2014)

Trey McIntyre is an American dancer and choreographer who founded the Trey McIntyre Project (TMP), a dance company based in Boise, Idaho.
Five buttons were produced for the 2014 production of The Vinegar Works using images from Gorey's stories (The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful Guest, The Beastly Baby, The Disrespectful Summons and The Deranged Cousins). These were handed out to audience members attending these dance performances in Boise.
These buttons are circular, have a concealed safety-pin design with oval holes and are 3.8cm diameter.
The front of the design is susceptible to rust spots when not stored correctly.



The Trey McIntyre Project (TMP) Buttons
TMP: The Deranged Cousins TMP: The Gashlycrumb Tinies TMP: The Doubtful Guest TMP: The Beastly Baby TMP: The Disrespectful Summons Button Back

(Image from @treymcintyreprojects)
(Image from @treymcintyreprojects)
(Image from @treymcintyreprojects)




エドワード・ゴーリーを巡る旅 (Journey to the World of Edward Gorey) Buttons (2023-2024)

エドワード・ゴーリーを巡る旅 (Journey to the World of Edward Gorey) was a Japanese travelling exhibit that ran through April 8th 2023 until September 1st 2024 and visited Shoto Museum of Art, Sakura City Museum of Art and Yokosuka Museum of Art.
Several buttons were created for the ephemera-filled giftshops. All buttons were originally sold individually wrapped in sealed plastic pockets.
These buttons are rectangular, have a concealed safety-pin design with three circular holes (only two are used, but the design allows for the same backplate to be used for both landscape and portrait designs, although the pin size is different for each) and are 6.9cm x 4.4cm in size.

エドワード・ゴーリーを巡る旅 Button Back
Vertical Horizontal


エドワード・ゴーリーを巡る旅 Buttons
Description Button Notes
Dancing Cats & Neglected Murderesses Image is from the front cover of the lettered release of Dancing Cats & Neglected Murderesses
The Doubtful Guest Image is from the cover of The Doubtful Guest
The Gashlycrumb Tinies Image is from the cover of The Gashlycrumb Tinies with the text moved from the bottom to the center-right
The Loathsome Couple Image is from the cover of The Loathsome Couple
Cat on Unicycle Image is from the 1980 F.M.R.A. collection and was previously unpublished
We hope your heart... Image is from a private valentine issued in 1961 by the publisher Ivan Obolensky to accompany a few issues of The Hapless Child
The Bat that flits... Image is from an illustration Gorey created to accompany the William Blake poem "The Bat that flits at close of eve".
Dinner Guest Image is from Welcome to Carnel Castle published in the May 1971 issue of The Atlantic
Cat in Book Tent Image is from an unpublished design that was possibly first used by Kidstamps for a rubber ink stamp
Gorey on Bat Image is from a postcard design used by Gotham Book Mart for various campaigns
Dracula Image is from the Martin Beck theatre poster design for Dracula staring Frank Langella
Dracula Drop Curtain Image is from the drop curtain design created for the 1973 Cyrus Peirce Theatre production of Dracula
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Image is from the 1981 Mobil poster for Mystery! Presents Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Sweeney Todd Image is from the 1981 Mobil poster for Mystery! Presents Sweeney Todd
The Woman in White Image is from the ~1984 Mobil poster for Mystery! Presents The Woman in White




The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey Buttons (2024)

Two buttons were created and handed out at The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust Summer Cocktail Party held at The Strand on July 31st 2024. The event featured the book launch of The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey: Rare Drawings, Scripts, and Stories by Carol Verburg (Chronicle Books, 2024).
The buttons are labelled "The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey by Carol Verburg".
These buttons are circular, have a concealed safety-pin design with almost circular oval holes and are 4.4cm in diameter.



The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey Buttons
Child with Mourning Fans Figbash with Umbrella Button Back




Ubiquitous Edward Gorey Button (2025)

The Ubiquitous Edward Gorey button was created for the exhibit of Ubiquitous Edward Gorey at the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives (April 10th - September 17th 2025).
This exhibition was co-curated by Patrice Miller and featured an extensive array of Edward Gorey material including pieces of original juvenilia which had never been exhibited before. It was part of the centenary celebrations for Gorey.
The button features an illustration Gorey created to accompany the William Blake poem "The Bat that flits at close of eve". The bat and moon in the illustration have been flipped to symbolise "C" for the centenary and the poem has been removed.
These buttons are circular and came in two different sizes, first run: 6.3cm and second run: 6.0cm.

The text reads:
Ubiquitous Edward Gorey
1925 | Centenary Celebration | 2025
Cushing Memorial Library and Archives



Ubiquitous Edward Gorey Button
Front
    Larger (6.3cm) Smaller (6.0cm)    		 Back




Unauthorised Buttons:

Due to the ease in which buttons can be created, many unauthorised examples exist. I do not intend to list all of these (including the examples I own!). However, any noticable examples I will add here.



Mystery! Button (~1980)

The Mystery! button was never officially produced and it's possible that it was never intended to be a physical button at all (but rather an overlay graphic to be added to Mystery! feature adverts).
However, a small unofficial run of buttons were created from the original sketches and were handed out to a few Gorey fans at an event, so it is entirely possible one will eventually pop-up in the market which is what makes this button especially notable.
You can see the original artwork and read more about the art on Goreyana.

Unofficial Mystery! Button




References

These are items that are not actual buttons or connected to any of the companies that created them but either reference or include photos of some of the collection.



Books & Catalogues



Books & Catalogues
Dance Posters
Eleanor Rachel Luger
1979, Simon and Schuster
pg.26		 pg.26 contains photos of: NYCB Ballerina one-handed lift (with mouth), NYCB Curtain call, NYCB Balerina holding pointe shoes

pg.26 contains text:
"Left: Edward Gorey's designs for a series of
buttons promoting the New York City
Ballet."
Goreyography
Henry Toledano
1996, Word Play
pg.158		 pg.158 Contains text:
"Buttons:
There have been approximately 11 different pin-back buttons issued
for Gorey's stage plays, some of which are difficult to find. They can
range from inexpensive to moderate. The New York City Ballet
buttons came in at least 7 different illustrations, and are becoming
very difficult to find. They are valued at moderate."

[NB: When Goreyography was published there were 13 different designs (15 counting the yellow variations) for the stage plays, 4 more would be created after publication.]
[NB: There are 13 unique NYCB designs, all of which were available when Goreyography was published.]
Bromer Booksellers
Anne C. Bromer & David Bromer
2001, Bromer Booksellers
pg.137		 pg.7 Contains text:
"FROM GOREY'S REFRIGERATOR TO YOURS
18.   Q.R.V. Trial Cover Art Magnets. 1989. Ten illustrations encased in circular badges
with a square magnet chip mounted to reverse. A unique trial set of illustrations for the
cover label of the miniature edition of Q.R.V., published by Anne and David Bromer in
1989. This set came about from Gorey's experimentation with metallic inks for the illus-
trations for the deluxe edition. Gorey created the buttons so he could place all the hand-
colored trial drawings on his refrigerator, in order to better appraise the effects of the
inks. The illustrations offered here were never used, and appear in no other publication.
Each button contains different variations on the design that was eventually used, and is
colored with either gold or silver ink. All are in fine condition. See color illustration.
EACH WILL BE SOLD INDIVIDUALLY AT: $1500.00"
unnumbered, contains photos of 5 Q.R.V. magnets
contains text: "Item 18: Q.R.V. Trial Cover Art Magnets"
Wise Men Fished Here
David McKnight
2019, University of Pennsylvania Libraries
pg.137		 pg.137 Contains text:
"... Gorey produced a range of merchandise for the New York City
Ballet, including pins for the "New York Kitty Ballet" (Item 233)..."

"233.
Edward Gorey
New York City Ballet and New York Kitty Ballet
New York, N. G. Slater Corporation
Buttons for New York City Ballet"

pg.137 Contains photos of:
  • New York Kitty Ballet (Ballerina holding pointe shoes)
  • New York City Ballet (Grey)
  • New York Kitty Ballet (Pink)
エドワード・ゴーリーの世界
(The Wonderful World of Edward Gorey)
20 August 2002, 河出書房新社		 Contains photos of:
  • English Soup
  • Inverted Commas
  • Tinned Lettuce
  • Embrace Etceterism
  • Blithering Christmas
  • Flapping Ankles
  • Stumbling Christmas
  • Stuffed Elephants
  • Crazed Teacups
  • Useful Urns
  • Chinese Gossip
  • Tragic Secrets
エドワード・ゴーリーの世界
(The Wonderful World of Edward Gorey)
30 August 2020, 河出書房新社		 Contains photos of:
  • English Soup
  • Inverted Commas
  • Tinned Lettuce
  • Embrace Etceterism
  • Blithering Christmas
  • Flapping Ankles
  • Stumbling Christmas
  • Stuffed Elephants
  • Crazed Teacups
  • Useful Urns
  • Chinese Gossip
  • Tragic Secrets


Which contains text:
"ピン・バッジ、ゴーリー作のミュージカルや
演劇の公演時に売られたものが中心。
この他にもたくさんの種類がある。"

Which roughly translates to:
"Pin badges, mainly those sold at performances of Gorey's musicals and plays, but there are many other kinds as well."
Always One Button Short
2022, Pomegranate		 Contains photos of:
  • NYCB: Ballerina pre-catch
  • NYCB: Ballerina in pink / Ballerina in purple
  • NYCB: Ballerina leap
  • NYCB: Ballerina with bat (without text)
  • NYCB: Ballerina with pointe shoes
  • NYCB: Ballerina legs
  • NYCB: Ballerina one-handed lift (with mouth) / Ballerina one-handed lift (without mouth)
  • NYCB: Curtain call
  • NYCB: Ballerina in flag costume
  • NYCB: Tschaikovsky Festival (Green) / Tschaikovsky Festival (Pale Green)
  • New York Kitty Ballet: Grey
  • New York Kitty Ballet: Pink
  • New York Kitty Ballet: Yellow
  • Gorey Stories: Opening Night
  • Gorey Stories: O the of it all
  • Tinned Lettuce
  • Lost Shoelaces
  • Napkin Folding: La Carte De Visite (#2 run)
  • Napkin Folding: La Trompe (#2 run)
  • Napkin Folding: La Caoutchouc (#2 run)
  • Napkin Folding: Le Croissant (#2 run)
  • Napkin Folding: Le Panais (#2 run)
  • Napkin Folding: La Limace (#2 run)
  • Napkin Folding: Le Chat Endormi (#1 run)
  • Napkin Folding: Folie à Deux (#2 run & #1 run)
  • Napkin Folding: L'Entonnoir (#1 run)
  • Napkin Folding: Le Papillon Enragé (#1 run)
  • Napkin Folding: L'Entonnoir (#1 run)
  • Napkin Folding: Le Cygne Mourant right-facing (#2 run) / Le Cygne Mourant left-facing (#2 run)
  • Don't Judge A Bork By His Cover
  • Stuffed Elephants (Yellow) / Stuffed Elephants (White)
  • Useful Urns (White) / Useful Urns (Yellow)
  • Flapping Ankles
  • Crazed Teacups
  • Blithering Christmas
  • Amphigorey
  • Chinese Gossip
  • Inverted Commas
  • Stumbling Christmas
  • Tragic Secrets
  • Epistolary Play
  • Embrace Etceterism
  • English Soup

See also, the dedicated section to Always One Button Short (2022) in this Collector Guide.
Always One Button Short
Lettered Edition (A-Z)
February 2023, Zagava / Pomegranate
The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey
Rare Drawings, Scripts, and Stories
Carol Verburg
2024, Chronicle Books
pg. 139
(pg. 100)		 pg. 53 Contains a photo of: Gorey Stories: O the of it all
pg. 60 Contains a photo of: Tinned Lettuce
pg. 75 Contains a photo of: Lost Shoelaces

(pg. 112)		 pg. 86 Contains a photo of: Stuffed Elephants (white)
pg. 100 Contains a photo of: Useful Urns (yellow)
pg. 112 Contains a photo of the original illustration of: Crazed Teacups

(pg. 126)		 pg. 126 Contains a photo of: Blithering Christmas
pg. 134 Contains a photo of: Stumbling Christmas
pg. 147 Contains a photo of: Chinese Gossip

(pg. 184)		 pg. 164 Contains a photo of: Inverted Commas
pg. 172 Contains a photo of: Embrace Etceterism
pg. 184 Contains a photo of: Tragic Secrets
pg. 189 Contains a photo of: English Soup
Edward Gorey
Großmeister des Kuriosen
Walter Moers
2024, Die Andere Bibliothek
pg. 259		 pg. 20 Contains photos of:
  • USA Flag Ballerina
  • Amphigorey
  • Flapping Ankles
  • Tinned Lettuce
  • Embrace Etceterism
  • Chinese Gossip
  • Blithering Christmas
  • Ballerina in pink
  • Tragic Secrets
  • Useful Urns (white)
pg. 263 Contains photos of:
  • Bat and Ballerina (no text)
  • Ballerina en pointe
  • Tschaikovsky Festival (Green)
  • Ballerina Leap
  • Ballerina holding pointe shoes




Magazines & Newspapers



Magazines & Newspapers
Print
Jan/Feb 1988
XLII: I
pg.60-61		 pg. 60 contains a photo of NYCB Ballerina leap
pg. 61 contains a photo of NYCB Ballerina holding pointe shoes.

pg. 60 contains the text
"43, 46. Promotional buttons for New York City
Ballet, Gift bat coordinator: Rosalie Lewis."
MOE
Aug 2018
No.466
pg.91		 pg. 91 contains a photo of the two エドワード・ゴーリーの優雅な秘密 Button designs, one as a hair-tie.

pg. 91 contains the text
"ゴーリーのイラストをあしら
った髪留め550円、おとぼけ
猫のピンズ500円"
MOE
Dec 2019
No.482
pg.2		 pg. 2 (inside cover) contains a photo of the two エドワード・ゴーリーの優雅な秘密 Button designs

pg. 2 contains the text
"「輝ける鼻のどんぐ』&ネコ
ピンズセット 30名
Pins
練馬区立美術館で開催中の「エドワード・ゴー
リーの優雅な秘密」展オリジナルグッズ。光沢
のある布にプリントされた上品なピンズは、プ
ローチやアクセサリーとしても使えそう。"




Gotham Book Mart price lists

Gotham Book Mart was a historically significant bookshop in NYC that had close links with Edward Gorey - they produced many Gorey-related price lists which, on occasion, included buttons.

Gotham Book Mart price lists
Title/Date Photo Text related to Buttons
The Works of Edward Gorey
~1980		 Buttons:

New York City Ballet. Black & white 60c; color $1.20; key chains $1.50
Edward Gorey
~1989		 WE ALSO HAVE GOREY DRACULA T SHIRTS & TOTE BAGS, POST CARDS, BUTTONS,
GOREY'S FAMOUS JOHN LOCKE NOTE PAPER, SIGNED, ETC,   JUST ASK.
A Limerick
~1992		 EDWARD GOREY BUTTONS $2 EACH

Contains photos of: Useful Urns, Lost Shoelaces, Crazed Teacups, Tinned Lettuce, Amphigorey, Stuffed Elephants, Blithering Christmas, Flapping Ankles
So Many Books ... So Little Time
~Summer 1994		 EDWARD GOREY
$2 EACH
BUTTONS

Contains photos of: Tinned Lettuce, Chinese Gossip, Crazed Teacups, Stuffed Elephants, Amphigorey, Flapping Ankles, Lost Shoelaces, Blithering Christmas, Useful Urns
So Many Books ... So Little Time
~1994		 EDWARD GOREY BUTTONS $2 EACH

Contains photos of: Useful Urns, Lost Shoelaces, Crazed Teacups, Tinned Lettuce, Amphigorey, Stuffed Elephants, Blithering Christmas, Flapping Ankles
Edward Gorey T-shirts
~1996		 Edward Gorey Buttons - $2.00 each
(reproduced at reduced size)

Contains photos of: Blithering Christmas, Tinned Lettuce, Flapping Ankles, Inverted Commas, Amphigorey, Useful Urns, Crazed Teacups, Chinese Gossip, Stuffed Elephants, Embrace Etceterism
Gotham Book Mart
Winter 1997		 EDWARD GOREY BUTTONS $2.00 EACH
NOT ACTUAL SIZE - ALL OBJECTS REDUCED

Contains photos of: Stumbling Christmas, Blithering Christmas, Tinned Lettuce, Useful Urns, Flapping Ankles, Amphigorey, Tragic Secrets, Inverted Commas, Embrace Etceterism, Stuffed Elephants, Chinese Gossip, Crazed Teacups