Mirror staff reports:

A collection of wearable presidential campaign items from as early as 1840 through the current 2012 election are on display in the lobby of the Federal Way Public Schools Educational Service Center (ESC), 33330 8th Ave. S., Federal Way.

FWPS employee David Wilson’s personal collection includes a variety of memorabilia, such as a host of creative buttons for candidates across the decades to ribbons and metal coins struck with the likeness of the candidates.

The earliest items in the collection are from the 1840 presidential campaign that pitted Whig Party candidate William Henry Harrison against incumbent Martin Van Buren.

Other pieces in the collection are ribbons, old ballots, tokens and other items adorned with slogans, photos and likenesses of the candidates. There are even a couple of ribbons from the Olympia area for the 1892 campaign, which was the first presidential election after Washington gained statehood.

Buttons will remain on display through Nov. 12. The ESC is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(Pictured: David Wilson points to two 1992 Washington Democratic State Convention ribbons in his collection.)

(Pictured: Campaign buttons from 1908)