A button from the uniform of an official of the Moscow province of the sample of 1857

The original button is in very good collector's condition. Steel, gilding, stamping. The diameter is 22 mm. Produced at the Kopeikin factory. Grade 1. Guarantee of authenticity.

"By the decree of Emperor Paul I of December 12, 1796 "On the new division of the state into provinces", the division into provinces and counties was restored. Then, in connection with the introduction of new states in local institutions, the law of February 15, 1797 established a system of "provincial state uniforms" with a single cut and color of caftans — dark green cloth, single-breasted, with a turn-down collar, without lapels. To distinguish the provinces, only the collar and cuffs now served, which, as it was specifically explained, had to be "those colors that are contained in the provincial coats of arms" (meaning the color of the coat of arms). There were five such colors: red, white, blue, fawn and light green. The provincial coat of arms was depicted on yellow or white buttons. "Samples of such uniforms" were approved, which were then sent out "for use by both employees in the provincial states and those with their estates."

In subsequent years (since 1801 ), the uniforms of individual provinces were subjected to private changes (most of all, the colors of the collar and cuffs), while simultaneously replacing the old style of the uniform with a new one. These changes in the provincial uniforms of the first years of the XIX century were fixed and brought into the system by decree of August 3, 1809. The caftan (cloth) retained a single dark green color with a green lining (for the St. Petersburg province - red). "Other differences between provinces," the decree explained, "consist in collars, cuffs, issues or edges" (i.e., in their color and material — cloth or velvet). Depending on the color of the collar and cuffs, eight "parsing" (groups) of uniforms were installed: red, blue, light and dark green, black, dark blue, purple, crimson and orange.

As early as 1808, uniforms were established for governors-general, civil governors and vice-governors "according to the colors assigned to each province." And in May 1811, they received gold or silver embroidery of the same pattern, depending on the color of the provincial buttons, and the governors-general had it on the collar, cuffs, pocket flaps and on the side. In the same year, prosecutors received special sewing on provincial uniforms. This form and sewing were preserved until 1834, when they underwent some changes

In 1824, the color differences of the provincial uniforms (collars and cuffs) were changed in such a way as to make them similar for the provinces belonging to each of the general governorates. Only the uniforms of the St. Petersburg and Moscow provinces received red collars and cuffs. The uniforms of some provinces had collars and cuffs of different colors. Colored edging on the collar, cuffs and sides of uniforms has become widespread. The buttons could be of white or yellow metal with the image of the provincial coat of arms. The difference between the uniforms of different provinces in the color of collars and cuffs was eliminated on January 1, 1831: from now on, collars and cuffs had to be made of red cloth; the difference now consisted only in buttons (all of them were yellow metal), on which the coat of arms and the name of the province were minted.

On July 4, 1857, the law "On the Coats of arms of provinces, regions, townships, cities and townships" was adopted, according to which the imperial crown was depicted on the provincial coats of arms above the shield, and oak leaves with St. Andrew's ribbon around the shield.

At least five different types of buttons were used on provincial uniforms. The provincial coats of arms were repeatedly completely or partially changed, various additions were made to their images, which naturally reflected on the appearance of the provincial buttons. Button manufacturers also contributed, using their own versions of the approved images. As a result, according to the button specialist Sh. Bektemeev, the number of provincial buttons by types and variants may exceed 800 units.