Every week, we get literally no emails asking for an in depth history of badges. It seems fair to say that this is because you are all too busy performing your own research to send that sort of email so we have taken matters into our own hands and here are the results.

Badges are actually a lot over it might seem. They first pop up in around the Middle ages and they wasn't exactly something that was accessible to everyone. The Pilgrim Badge for example was something that you could only wear if you had been, as the name suggests on a pilgrimage. To consider using a you experienced to go to somewhere of Christian significance like Canterbury Cathedral which doesn't sound particularly difficult, but don't forget this has been the middle Ages and a pilgrimage often meant quite a long walk, up to almost a year in each direction; a badge well earned.

The good news was that even if you wasn't a faith based pilgrim you still had plenty of access to badges... as long as you were amazingly wealthy that is. If you get chance give the Dunstable Swan Jewel a Google because it is quite a notable bit of kit. Made from gold and enamel it is a decorative swan in the late 1300's it is an example of a livery badge and were essentially the first political supporter badges. The only difference was that, rather than being bought by fans, we were holding given out by important figures to be worn to show allegiances : a badge of complete.

The political affiliations don't stop there. When people were running for some kind of office they would often commission a local artisan to make some in a simple mold with some base metals. enamel badges  In more recent times this idea was taken to the next level in China with the famous Chairman Mao badge. In the middle of the last century it's estimated that several BILLION of these little red badges keeping the Chairman's face were made.

Of course, nowadays we tend to use badges for fun, but for a long time if you had a badge it meant you used to be a pretty important person. The Sheriff's badge in america is a prime example, and folks still talk about having 'respect for the badge'. It's like the position of law enforcement means nothing without the badge.

Over time though, badges have become more of a way of showing support or affiliation to something that you value. From the exclusive, money can't buy Blue Peter badge to the simple button badges that tell everyone what band you like, badges have a pretty impressive history... which you have now been escorted through.

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