Red Tape Pin

• National Archives Store Exclusive
• Handcrafted in the U.S.A.
• One-of-a-kind sterling silver and polished glass
• Authentic U.S. government red tape
• This item contains a portion of a vintage document: items may differ from that photographed

• Product Description

• This exclusive red tape pin will let everyone know that you like to cut through the red tape and get things done with quality and efficient elegance.

  The red tape used to make this jewelry comes from records held in the National Archives. As the Archives works to protect and preserve our nation's records, improvements to storage methods mean that documents are no longer tri-folded and tied together with red tape. Archivists are "cutting the red tape" and protecting our precious artifacts using the newest approved methods of preservation.

By the end of the American Civil War, it was common practice in the Western world to bind important documents with red ribbon. Civil War veterans' service records were often tied with red ribbon, and the difficulty of obtaining these records to file pension claims led to the modern American phrase "cut through the red tape."

The amount of ribbon used by the Union Army was considerable. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1864, the headquarters of the War Department alone purchased a total of 154 miles of red tape. Eventually, the stapler would replace red tape bindings, streamlining administrative tasks. Today, artists creatively repurpose red tape, transforming it into unique historical mementos and souvenirs.