Federal Books & Collectibles

Federal Books & Collectibles We have a passion for history.

We love our badges as they are often a snapshot of a societies social history showing the pressing concerns, activities and celebrations of that particular town, state or nation.

During World War I, Australia held dedicated "Italian Red Cross Days" on 6 July 1917 and 28 June 1918 to raise urgent hu...
12/09/2026

During World War I, Australia held dedicated "Italian Red Cross Days" on 6 July 1917 and 28 June 1918 to raise urgent humanitarian funds for its wartime ally, Italy.

Korean War Chinese Canteen - Battle Of Maryang-San - 3 RAREx-Hitchen House Military Museum, Gilgandra NSW. Located in th...
12/09/2026

Korean War Chinese Canteen - Battle Of Maryang-San - 3 RAR

Ex-Hitchen House Military Museum, Gilgandra NSW. Located in the former home of Captain William (Bill) Hitchen who launched the 1915 Coo-ee recruitment march, the contents of the museum were auctioned in 2022. The canteen comes with the original card with matching accession numbers to the sticker on the back of the canteen. The Red Star on the canteen is for the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Scratch engraved to the left of the Red Star is "5th Oct 51 - Hill 217". This date and location is significant to the 3 RAR engagement during the Battle of Maryang-San. The museum card indicates that it was recovered from a fallen enemy soldier by a member of 3 RAR. A fantastic & original Korean War item. This one will be coming up for auction on Ebay from the 19th of September.

1971 Black & White Cabs Picnic Pin Badge - Founded in Brisbane in 1936 (with links to Ascot Taxi Service from 1919), Bl...
30/08/2026

1971 Black & White Cabs Picnic Pin Badge - Founded in Brisbane in 1936 (with links to Ascot Taxi Service from 1919), Black & White Cabs hosted massive social picnics for their drivers, operators and staff.
Buying dirty badges at auction is always a risk when you are 1000km away and can't inspect them but if the staining is on top of the clear cap and not below it they can often be carefully cleaned and restored.

Norman Gunston - The character originally debuted on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s The Auntie Jack Show befo...
29/08/2026

Norman Gunston - The character originally debuted on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s The Auntie Jack Show before hosting the Gold Logie-winning series The Norman Gunston Show on ABC-TV. Known as the "Little Aussie Bleeder", the character was famous for his comb-over hair, nervous facial expressions, and trademark shaving-cut tissue patches on his face. Promotional badges like this one were widely distributed to fans during the peak of his popularity in the mid-1970s (specifically around 1975–1976).

Papua New Guinea (PNG) officially achieved full independence from Australia on 16 September 1975. This historic event ma...
23/08/2026

Papua New Guinea (PNG) officially achieved full independence from Australia on 16 September 1975. This historic event marked the end of nearly a century of colonial administration by European powers and Canberra. It established PNG as a sovereign, self-governing nation.

HMAS Wewak (L130) was a Balikpapan-class Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was ...
23/08/2026

HMAS Wewak (L130) was a Balikpapan-class Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was built by Walkers Limited in Maryborough, Queensland, and commissioned into the RAN on 10 August 1973. The ship was placed in reserve in August 1985 and spent 15 years being used as a parts donor for sister ships. Wewak was reactivated in late 2000. She later deployed as part of Operation Anode providing essential transport support for the multi-national Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The ship officially retired from Australian service on 11 December 2012.

The Royal Society for the Blind was founded in 1884, changed their name to the Royal Institute in 1903 and were incorpor...
23/08/2026

The Royal Society for the Blind was founded in 1884, changed their name to the Royal Institute in 1903 and were incorporated in 1934. The card has lettering in braille for Thank You.

c1930s Holden Motor Body Builders Coachwork BadgeBefore producing their own standalone cars (starting with the FX in 194...
14/08/2026

c1930s Holden Motor Body Builders Coachwork Badge

Before producing their own standalone cars (starting with the FX in 1948), Holden Motor Body Builders built custom car bodies and coachwork for various international automotive manufacturers. These plates were affixed to the bodies of vehicles assembled in Australia during the 1930s and 1940s. This included early models from brands like Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Vauxhall.

cWWI Vote For 11 O'Clock Closing Of Hotels Pin Badge - Anti-ProhibitionDuring the height of the temperance movement and ...
14/08/2026

cWWI Vote For 11 O'Clock Closing Of Hotels Pin Badge - Anti-Prohibition

During the height of the temperance movement and World War I, state governments introduced referendums allowing the public to vote on hotel closing times. The temperance groups advocated heavily for early closures—specifically pushing for 6:00 PM—promoted as a temporary wartime austerity and moral measure. Prior to these early closures, Australian public bars routinely stayed open until 11:00 PM or 11:30 PM. This specific badge would have been produced and worn by the anti-prohibition lobby, members of the liquor trade, or citizens campaigning against early closing hours, urging voters to opt for a later 11 o'clock closing time

The National Bank of Australasia was a bank based in Melbourne. It was established in 1857, and in 1982 merged with the ...
08/08/2026

The National Bank of Australasia was a bank based in Melbourne. It was established in 1857, and in 1982 merged with the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney to form National Australia Bank. The official coat of arms granted to the bank in 1954 featured a prominent red cross charged with five stars over a gold and silver shield.

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