19th Century Historical Memorabilia

Grant, Ulysses S. Large Albumen Photograph Magnificent large albumen photograph of Ulysses S. grant by Abraham Bogardus. An unusually large late (circa 1880) photograph of Grant, post-presidency, in formal dress, sitting and in partial profile. Mounted on thick card with the photographer’s credit and address (“A. Bogardus / 872 Broadway, NY”) on matte below the photo. The photographer, Anthony Bogardus, was a photographic pioneer, described by the New York Times as “the best-known photographer in the United States” in his prime who took “the first photographs of Gen. Grant, Gen. Hancock, Samuel D. Morse, inventor of the telegraph; Horace Greeley, Henry Ward Beecher and other equally well-known men.” The engravers Currier & Ives produced an engraving based on this photograph, calling it “the last and best taken of General Grant...

1891 map of Norfolk county Massachusetts including the towns of Wrentham, Franklin, Medfield, Sherborn, Norwood etc., measures: 23 x 31.

Two-tone leather quirt with fringe drops. Shot filled handle. Period: 19th century Origin: Montana Size: quirt 18" overall with flappers 33" plus wrist wrap.                 Family ...

Muslin shield with backhand hold, bundle sticks with red and yellow ochre and original shoulder carrying strap. Ex Kammerer Period: 19th Century Origin: Sioux, Plains Size: 16 1/2...

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish author, best known for his genre defining fairy tales. His work includes Thumbelina, The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid - stories that are still delighting children to this day. Many have been adapted as Classic Disney films. A guaranteed genuine half inch strand of Hans Christian Anderson...

This handwritten (it appears with quill) letter was addressed to the Governor of the state of Ohio in 1861- the beginning of the Civil War. Tyler Davidson, one of the major Colt distributors, is offering the Ohio Militia one to two thousand Colt Navy revolvers. They "can provide 100 per day at a cost of $22.50 each." This document from the files of Civil War General...

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) is considered the laureate of the south west of England. His much-loved novels explore the changing lives of country people in a rapidly industrialising worl...

No self-respecting man in Qing-dynasty China would leave the house without some kind of hat. In fact, headgear was so central to social status that a boy’s passage into manhood was m...

This striking wall map was published in 1854 by Ensign, Bridgman & Fanning and has both full original hand-coloring and original hardware. This impression is both informative and highly decorative. The states are divided into counties, outlined in red, green, and black, and subdivided into towns. Roads, canals, and railroad lines are prominently depicted, although they are not all labeled. The mapmakers also marked lighthouses, banks, churches, and prominent buildings, with a key at right. The map is an informative and comprehensive overview of the infrastructural development of New England prior to the Civil War. Physical geographies depicted include elevation, conveyed with hachure marks, rivers and lakes. The impression features an inset map of Boston...

Coeur d'Alene tribe moccasins with very thin hide and beadwork. Fawn or antelope. Simple classic design. Neat display - shows use. Period: Last half of the 19th century Origin: Coe...

A very handsome and impressive pair of relief portrait busts in copper depicting portrait busts of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) on the left, and Napoleon Bona...

This is the 1892 artist proof edition of 200 signed by the artist, Douglas Adams. Douglas Adams (1853-1920) was a London based landscape painter exhibiting at various galleries betwe...

Early designed beaded Nez Perce martingale. Constructed stroud applied to canvas with beaded panels of hourglass and diamond motifs. Split tab and brass bell suspensions. Stunning pi...

An Elkington & Company Silver Gilt Presentation Casket Hall Marked for Birmingham, 1891 and the maker; the casket, in the Victorian Gothic manner, with cluster columns at the angles...

Bas Rilief with profile of Ferdinando IV Borbone, dressed as a Roman Emperor. Beginning of 19th century. Wax sculpture within circular hickory frame. Very fine piece belonging to ...

Lakota Sioux child's dress quilled on buffalo hide; collected and entered into the Maryland Academy of Art and Science prior to 1880. It was deaccessioned...

This is a highly desirable hanging wall map of the "World at One View", published in 1847 by Ensign and Thayer, New York. This pictorial map was printed as a broadside and features...

A French 19th century altarpiece with intaglio. This antique French altarpiece features an urn and floral motif, with a single intaglio set into the central top bouquet. This altarpi...

A late 19th century cast iron elevator indicator panel from the famed Fisher Building designed and built by Daniel Burnham in 1896. The indicator de...

Clothing press in oakwood, Holland, 19th century. On four turned legs (three of them secured with a straight chambrana) the press rises, with a drawer underneath. As it is a purely u...

Clothing press in oak wood, Holland, 19th century. Garment press with closed cupboard in its lower part made of oak wood in Holland. As is normal in these utilitarian elements, it la...

Exceptional large carved wood crest representing the British Royal family. Beautiful patina, original painted finish.

Oil on canvas portrait entitled:Mr. Bowles of Kentucky, painted by Benoni Irwin (1840-1896) an American portraitist born in new market, Ontario, Canada. He moved to New York as a you...

Presented is an 1894 signed first edition goupil-gravure print by Heywood Hardy (1842-1933). The engraving was printed in Paris and published by Boussod Valadon & Co. Publishers, the successors to Goupil & Co. Designed as a companion to After the Drive, Hardy’s On the Moors (Dogging) depicts three hunters and their two dogs hunting ducks. The youngest of the three men is shooting his gun as the dogs excitedly wait to chase after the bird. This print is one of only 75 artist’s proofs and has been signed by the artist in pencil at the lower left corner of the print’s margin. Hunting has a long history in England and is considered a very traditional activity even today. One of the most popular forms of hunting is called “wildfowling” and targets wild geese and ducks. Often conducted on coastal marshes, wildfowling is typically a solitary or small group sport unlike the grand group fox and pheasant hunts...

Fully-entitled: Army of the Potomac. The Wagon Trains of the Army of the Potomac en Route from Chickahominy to James River VA. During the Seven...

By Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820) and Pierre Charles L'Enfant (1754-1825). Plan of the City of Washington. Published by Thackara & Vallance, Philadelphia, 1792. Later impression printed on 19th century wove paper. This is a fine 19th century printing of the "official" plan of Washington, D.C. First printed in 1792 by the original publishers, Thackara & Vallance in Philadelphia, this is a later 19th century printing of the fifth recorded engraving of the L’Enfant / Ellicott city plan. The first three issues of this city plan were in published in periodicals, making the fifth edition only the second separately-issued engraving of the plan. In full, the title reads, “Plan of the City of Washington in the Territory of Columbia, ceded by the States of Virginia and Maryland to the United States of America and by them established as the Seat of their Government after the year 1800.” The national capital city is laid out according to a plan originally proposed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant and modified by Andrew Ellicott. L'Enfant was born in Paris, where he trained to be an architect. He came to America in 1777, and served under George Washington as an engineer during the Revolutionary War. In 1791, Washington asked L'Enfant to design the new capital city in the District of Columbia. However, trouble arose between the city and L'Enfant. The City Commissioner needed a finished, printed copy of the plan in order to sell building lots but L'Enfant worked slowly and released only incomplete plans, and proved to be quite obstinate. On instruction from President Washington...

A large original vintage historical builders photo of the Brighton Beach railroad bridge at Neptune Ave. Hand lettering on the mat are the names of the ...

"Pocahontas Saving The Life of Captain John Smith" is a chromo-lithograph made by the "New Eng. Chromo Lith. Co. Boston" (printed on the lower left border). It is dated 1870...

Early 19th century golden oak hall chairs, from Cawston Hall Livery Room. These are a delightful hall chairs, the superbly carved backs are...

This is the 1889 William H. Overend (1851-1898) and Lionel Smythe (1839-1918) first edition, photogravure of the Calcutta Cup – a Rugby match between Scotland and England, that has been played over 100 times, the first match...

Pio Joris (Rome, 1843-1922). The Via Flaminia, a Sunday morning," 1869, (winner of the Gold Medal Exhibition in Monaco, 1869) with frame 160 x 83 cm. Pio Joris attended the Istitu...

French Empire (19th Century) bronze inkwell in the form of Napoleon's casket covered by a shroud with a crown finial top and resting on a tiered base with...

Italian military decoration. Military ornament, reign of King Carlo Alberto of Piedmont-Sardinia, Italy, 1831-1849. Dimension: 2.5" diameter x 1.25 D...

A 14 point star Badge made by George Ward of Manchester and assayed in Chester in 1843  Engraved with "Presented to PCR George Heathcote by members of No...

Very nice roman plaquette with inscription on it. The inscription says something with Diva Faustina and Antoninus. So it must be in reference or to coin...

Antique American 45 Star Flag, circa 1896, marking the admission of Utah into the Union as the 45th state in 1896. This was an official flag of the United States for only twelve yea...

Presented is an original pair of Civil War-era field glasses. The glasses, an intricate example of brass and glass technology, were made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the company Queen & Co. The glasses are stamped “Queen & Co., Phila” along the eyepiece. They are housed in the original leather hard case. The glasses were most likely made in the early 1860s. Binoculars were first invented in France in the 1840s. They started small, primarily as opera glasses, but by the Civil War, they were being used in battle. Larger versions, like the pair seen here, became known as field glasses. Unlike Civil War uniforms...

Antique mid 19th Century Victorian large and impressive, beautifully hand painted, carved wooden English Royal crest used in a court or government building around the year 1860. An i...

A nice quality continental Grand Tour brass figure of Napoleon Bonaparte standing on a column and dating from the 19th century. Made from solid brass the renowned French Military Lea...

The Bucket is worn overall in keeping with its function. A round leather covered bucket with black leather strap and painted British royal crest. W...

From a private museum this very rare large example of the glorious victis on a rouge, marble museum, swivel base This particular bronze was the one that was shown in 1890 Colombian ...

A Rare and Important American White Marble Sculpture of Thomas Jefferson Holding The Declaration of Independence. Circa 1870, in the Manner of Horatio Stone (1808 –1875). Inscribed on scroll: 'The Declaration of Independence, It becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. etc. etc. T. Jefferson. The present work is unsigned but is reminiscent of Horatio Stone's life-size marble figure of John Hancock...

Antique Box With Coat Of Arms 19th century ANTIQUE BOX WITH CREST ELEGANT LEATHER BOX WITH CENTRAL SHIELD.THE INTERIOR IS LINED IN RED.IT HAS ITS ORI...

38 HAND-SEWN STARS IN A "NOTCHED" PATTERN, ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH BEAUTIFUL WEAR FROM HAVING BEEN EXTENSIVELY FLOWN, MADE AT THE TIME WHEN COLORADO WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, 1876-1889 38 star Antique American flag, made during the period when Colorado was the most recent state to join the Union. The stars are arranged in what is known as a "notched" pattern, in which two spaces were left open along the hoist end, in the first and last rows, in anticipation that two more Western Territories would soon join the Union. The latter 19th century was a time of when much of the land in and about the Continental Divide was formalized into states, and there was continual speculation about which ones would be accepted next, and with what boundaries. The stars of the flag are made of cotton and are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with a lineal, treadle stitch. The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting that has been pieced with treadle stitching. The canton was constructed from five separate lengths of fabric, which is an unusual feature, though hardly unknown. To each of these a row of stars was sewn. This manner of construction is sometimes encountered and tends to be an early trait, at least when it occurs in flags of this scale and smaller. When encountered, it also seems to have been preferred in flags meant for maritime use. While the feature does not by any means guarantee this fact, it is a reasonable, educated guess, based upon my examination of many other examples. A flag with a 5-piece canton, such as this, would have been less likelihood to stretch, with increased structural integrity. The alternative is that this was simply an example made when there were at least five pieces of leftover fabric, of a reasonable size to made individual rows, and that what it actually demonstrates is the careful conservation of scarce resources. There is a sailcloth canvas binding along the hoist, with 3 brass grommets, evenly spaced. Perhaps the best feature of the flag is the evidence it displays of having been extensively flown, with the fly end whipped out from wind exposure. While many flags display damage from a combination of having been flown, exposure to the elements, various mishaps, and improper storage, very few exhibit wear such as this, which is both endearingly and visually attractive. This one shows its age beautifully, whipped out along the fly end, with losses that convey an element of movement, that most flags don’t capture in the state in which they survive. Colorado became the 38th state on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation’s 100-year anniversary of independence. Per the Third Flag Act of 1818, stars were not officially added until the 4th of July following a state's addition. For this reason, 37 was the official star count for the American flag in 1876. Flag-making was a competitive venture, however, and few flag-makers would have been continuing to produce 37 star flags, when their competitors were making 38’s. It is for this reason that 38 and 13 stars (to represent the original 13 colonies...

Rare, large scale Kerchief with a beautifully engraved image of John Trumbull’s “declaration of independence,” likely made in...

A set of three framed original Race Horse Chromolithographs originally published in the “Illustrated Stock Doctor and Livestock Encyclopedia” in 1882. In hand-painted wood frames secured with small nails, with metal hanging rings. Captioned as follows: “Black’s Hambletonian” One of the finest and best blooded trotting stallions of the day. Property of S. Baxter Black, Compassville, Pa. Cost when a weanling colt $3500. Sired by “Rysdyk’s Hambletonion”; dam “Long Island Black Hawk” “Maud S." The Queen of the Turf. Record 2.10 1/4. The fastest trotter the world has yet known. Owned by William H. Vanderbilt Esq. who has refused a cash offer of $100.000 for her. Foaled at Woodburn Farm, Ky. March 28, 1874. Trainer and driver W.W. Bair. “Iroquois” Winner of the Derby. (Epsom Derby...

Antique American Flag with 10-pointed stars that spell “1776 – 1876”, Made for the 100-Year Anniversary Of American Independence,one of the most graphic of all early examples. Man...

1840 campaign kerchief featuring an image of William Henry Harrison on horseback in military garb, one of the first known campaign textiles in e...

Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist, on the New Constitution. By Publius. Written in 1788. To Which is Added, Pacificus, on...

13 Star American parade flag in an extremely rare design, with “protection to home industries” slogan on a fanciful, scrolling streamer, made for the 1888 presidential campaign of Benjamin Harrison; formerly in the collection of Richard pierce. 1888 Benjamin Harrison campaign flag, printed on cotton, with 13 large stars in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern, upon which a whimsical, scrolling streamer is superimposed that features the slogan: “Protection to Home Industries.” There are numerous styles of both documented and undocumented, red, white, and blue bandanas and handkerchiefs, made for Harrison’s campaign in this year, as well as from the subsequent one, in 1892. Most bear variations of text to support the “Protection for American Industries” platform of the Republican Party. America was in the midst of the industrial age and there was a great deal of public interest, both in protecting growth and discouraging both imported goods and immigration. The constant stream of immigrants posed great challenges for a working families, competing for scarce jobs, in work environments that were already often far from ideal. In post-Civil War America, many of the working men were Civil War veterans. Bandanas abound from Harrison’s Campaigns, but flags do not. This example, along with three others, were once part of an 1888 patriotic quilt that was disassembled by a dealer and sold piecemeal to collectors. I eventually acquired all four. Fifteen to twenty years ago, these were the only four known copies. A couple of others have since surfaced, but the total count known still stands closer to 5 than 10. The use of 13 stars is seen in the flags of various candidates in the 19th century. Among these are Abraham Lincoln (1860 campaign), Henry Clay (1844 campaign), John Fremont (1856), and Benjamin Harrison’s grandfather, William Henry Harrison...

8-Foot commission pennant with 13 stars, a unique example in my experience, likely produced for display on a private vessel, made circa 1892-1910. Commission pennants are the distinguishing mark of a commissioned U.S. Navy ship. Flown at the topmast, the typical American format is a long blue field, usually with a single row of white stars, although sometimes with their total divided into two rows, followed by two long stripes, red-over-white. A ship became commissioned when this pennant was hoisted. Flown during both times of peace and war, the only time the pennant is not flown is if a flag officer or civilian official was aboard and replaced it with their own flag. Sometimes the owners of private ships mimicked the use of Navy signals. Some seafaring men would have served in the Navy and become privy to various practices in that capacity. Others flew them purely for stylistic reasons, either on a regular basis or while the boat was dressed for special occasion. Hudson River steamers regularly flew pennants of this nature, as evidenced by period photography as well as the paintings of artists such as John and James Bard...

Antique American flag with 13 hand-sewn stars in an extremely rare lineal configuration of 5-3-5, probably made with the intent of use by local militia or private outfitting of a vol...

38 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH A DOUBLE-WREATH CONFIGURATION THAT FEATURES AN ENORMOUS CENTER STAR, REFLECTS THE PERIOD OF COLORADO STATEHOOD, 1876-1889: 38 star American national flag, made entirely of plain weave cotton. The stars are arranged in a medallion configuration. This features an enormous center star, surrounded by two wreaths of much smaller stars, with a flanking star in each corner of the blue canton. The sort of disparity here, present in the scale of the large star, versus those around it, is both exceptionally unusual and graphically dynamic. Colorado became the 38th state on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation’s centennial. Per the Third Flag Act of 1818, stars were not officially added until the 4th of July following a state's addition. For this reason, 37 remained the official star count for the American flag until part way through the following year. Flag-making was a competitive venture, however, and few flag-makers would have continued to produce 37 star flags when their competitors were making 38’s. Many flag-makers added a 38th star before Colorado entered the Union, in the early part of 1876, or possibly even prior. In fact, many makers of printed flags, called parade flags or hand-wavers, were actually producing flags in the 39 star count, in hopeful anticipation of the addition of two more Western Territories instead of one. It is for these reasons that 38, 39, and 13 stars, to representing the original 13 colonies, are most often seen on flags displayed at the Centennial International Exhibition. Hosted in Philadelphia, this enormous event was our nation’s first World’s Fair, lasted for a duration of six months, and served as the nucleus of celebrations held to honor America’s 100-year anniversary of independence. The 38 star flag became official on July 4th, 1877 and was generally used until the 39th state was added in November of 1889. This is probably a homemade flag, though sewn by a very skilled hand, or possibly, by two different individuals. The stripes are pieced and sewn entirely by hand, with remarkable care and precision. The canton is constructed of two lengths of blue fabric, that have been joined with treadle stitching. This was joined to the striped field by hand. The stars are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with treadle stitching. There is a treadle-sewn, cotton binding along the hoist, with five, hand-sewn grommets. It is extremely unusual to encounter this combination of sewing methods. Soon after the sewing machine was mass-marketed, in the mid-1850’s, flag-makers both public and private made good use of treadle machines, to join stripes, when constructing American flags. During the Civil War (1861-65), most stripes were treadle-sewn. Stars were another matter. Until the advent of electric machines...

13 star antique American flag in the Betsy Ross pattern, one of just three examples that I have encountered that pre-date the 1890’s; an extraordinary find, civil war period (1861-1865) or just after, extremely large among its counterparts of all periods in this design: Exceptional, early, American national flag, with 13 stars arranged in the circular wreath pattern most often attributed to Betsy Ross. Since there was no official configuration for the stars of the American flag until 1912, when our nation received its 47th and 48th states, the design, before that time, was left to the whims of the maker. This led to an almost unimaginable spectrum of star arrangements on the American flag during the 18th and 19th centuries. Even within the 13 star count, alone, there are at least 80 known patterns—more than the average person would even think possible. 13 star flags have been made throughout American history, from at least June 14th, 1777, when the first Flag Act was passed by Congress, until the present. They have been continuously produced for reasons both patriotic and utilitarian. Because this was the original number of stars on the American flag, representing the 13 colonies, it was appropriate for any device made in conjunction with celebrations or notions of American independence. 13 star flags were thus displayed at patriotic events, including, but certainly not limited to, such occasions as Lafayette’s final visit, in 1825-26, the nation’s centennial in 1876, and longstanding celebrations of Independence Day. From at least 1840 onward, 13 star flags were produced for presidential campaigns, drawing a parallel between the past and present struggles for freedom, and were carried by soldiers, during the Mexican and Civil Wars, for the same purpose. Throughout history, and even today, they are boldly displayed at every presidential inauguration. 13 star flags were flown by American ships both private and federal. The U.S. Navy used 13 stars on the ensigns made for small boats, because they wished the stars to be more easily discernable at a distance. Private ships often copied Navy practice, and when commercial flag makers first began to produce flags with pieced-and-sewn construction, in small sizes, in large quantity, they frequently employed the 13 star count. Flags in the Betsy Ross design are widely admired, due to the longstanding popularity of the Ross family myth. While many Americans learned in grammar school that Betsy Ross made and designed our first flag, and that the stars appeared in a circular fashion, there is, unfortunately, no way to prove the claim. No colonial examples have survived with this pattern of stars. In fact, while arranging the stars in a single circle seems quite logical, among the various choices that might come to mind, early American flags with this star pattern are curiously absent. One of the interesting misconceptions about 13 star flags is that the Betsy Ross pattern, even if not the original design, must have been common in early America. Logic would suggest this, given the frequency with which it appears in modern times, but this isn’t actually the case. In fact, the pattern is seldom encountered anywhere until much later. In more than 30 years of buying and selling early Americana, and over 20 years of extensive focus on the American flag specifically, through aggressively buying, researching, evaluating, restoring, and curating exhibitions, I have thus far encountered just three examples of Betsy Ross pattern flags that I can confidently date prior to the 1890's. No one knows what the first flag looked like. While there is no precise reason that the Betsy Ross design could not have been the first, one of the best arguments against it, is illustrated by the simple fact that so many 13 star flags exist without it. If the Ross configuration was the original, it stands to reason that the pattern would have been reproduced with at least some degree of frequency. Research conducted by the National Museum of American History notes that the story of Betsy Ross making the very first American flag for General George Washington, in the company of George Ross and Robert Morris, entered into American consciousness about the time of the 1876 centennial. The tale was immensely popular among an American public eager for stories about the Revolution and its heroes. The first documentation of it appeared shortly beforehand, in 1870, in a paper written by Betsy’s grandson, William Canby, for the Pennsylvania Historical Society. At the time, Canby made no mention of how the flag was designed, save for the fact that it had 5-pointed stars, per his grandmother’s suggestion. Because no earlier documentation supports the story, most flag scholars feel it was a grand hoax, fabricated by Canby for his own interests. Nothing survives in the collective writings of the three men, for example, nor in records of their words and deeds, which are fairly extensive. As with most things, reality is perhaps somewhere in the middle ground, with some of the details based on fact and some on fiction, made up, misinterpreted, or imagined from family accounts. The first time that a star configuration gets attached to the Ross story appears to have occurred during the last decade of the 19th century. In 1892, Charles Weisgerber painted a nine-by-twelve-foot rendition of the fabled meeting between Betsy and George Washington, in which there is a flag with a circular wreath. Shortly afterwards, in 1898, Betsy’s granddaughter and great-granddaughter began to make flags in the East Wing of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, selling them to tourists while disseminating the family folk tale. In that same year, Weisgerber and a “group of concerned citizens” sought to preserve Betsy’s former Philadelphia residence at 239 Arch Street, where she lived at the time the flag would have been sewed. Weisgerber moved his family into the house and immediately opened to the public the room in which Betsy was said to have worked her magic. Ten-cent memberships were sold to fund renovations and donors received a small calendar, to which a cotton 13 star Betsy Ross pattern parade flag was affixed. The effects of these events caused the Ross legend to stick and the story, with the corresponding flag design, has appeared ever since in more places than one could ever hope to count. The stars of this particular flag are made of cotton, hand-sewn, and double-appliquéd (applied to both sides). The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting that has been pieced and joined with treadle stitching. There is a sailcloth canvas binding along the hoist, with two brass grommets, one each at the extreme top and bottom. Along this, on the obverse, near the bottom, are two, unusual characters, embroidered with brown thread. These may be letter “I’s,” possibly forming a the Roman Numeral “II.” They are followed by an inscription, in blue ink, that appears to read “A. N. Smith.” The first character is stylized, and may alternatively be a “D,” “H,” or perhaps a “J.” Note how the binding is extended beyond the top and bottom-most points. Though quite unusual, this is sometimes encountered in early examples. The folding of the wool bunting back onto itself, with the binding stitched so that part of the fold is exposed, tends to be an early characteristic. Common in Civil war flags...

38 star antique American parade flag with scattered star orientation, made of silk, with generous scale and vivid colors, Colorado Statehood, 1876-1889 38 star American national p...

Elaborate sailor’s souvenir embroidery from the orient with a beautiful hand-painted image of Washington crossing the Delaware, surrounded by a large eagle, federal shield, crossed flags, a cannon, cannonballs, and anchor, circa 1885-1910: Between roughly 1880 and 1915, American sailors visiting the orient could obtain beautiful needlework embroideries on shore, with patriotic American themes. These extraordinary works of art were acquired as mementos of a long voyage, often with the hope that they might be presented as gifts for loved ones and friends. Using silk floss, elaborately embellished with both silver and gold metallic bullion thread...

34 Upside-down, Hand-sewn Stars In A Notched Configuration, On An Antique American Flag Of The Civil War Period, With A Beautiful And Highly Unusual Jacquard Weave Binding, And In A Tiny Scale Among Its Counterparts, Reflects The Addition Of Kansas As The 34th State, 1861-1863 34 star American national flag with a number of interesting and desirable features. Chief among these is the scale of the flag among counterparts of the period. At just three by four feet, its size is absolutely tiny among those with pieced-and-sewn construction. During the 19th century, sewn flags (as opposed to those that were printed on cloth) were typically eight feet long and larger. This is because they were important in their function as signals, meaning that they needed to be seen and recognized from great distance. A flag that was six feet in length was considered small and production of flags smaller than this was extremely limited. Even infantry battle flags, carried on foot, were approximately six by six and-one-half feet, about the size of an average quilt of the same period. It wasn't until the 1890’s that manufacturers began to produce smaller sewn flags in great quantity. The stars of the flag are arranged in justified lineal rows, the first of which contains one fewer star. This results in what I call a “notched” design, leaving one space open for the addition of another star. The blank space leaves little doubt that the maker of the flag assumed that another Western Territory would soon acquire statehood, or that West Virginia might soon break free from Virginia, which occurred in June of 1863. Note how the stars are oriented so that they are upside-down on their vertical axis, with two points up instead of one. No one knows if this positioning bore any particular meaning. Both modern notions of the correct orientation of a star, and the present official design of the American flag, dictate that the stars are supposed to have one point up. Since there was no official design for the flag until 1912, however, it may simply be that the maker of the flag did not consider any particular position to be right-side-up or upside-down. In the mid-19th century, it was not uncommon to see stars pointing any which way, varied throughout whatever arrangement was chosen. Whatever the case may be, the feature present on this particular flag is unusual to the eye and notable in terms of its presentation. Made of cotton, the stars are hand-sewn and double-appliquéd (applied to both sides). The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting. Because blue wool bunting generally came in a width of 18", the canton was pieced from two lengths of fabric, joined by hand-stitching. The canton is joined to the striped field by hand-stitching. The stripes are pieced and hemmed by treadle stitching. Made of heavy, polished, jacquard weave linen, the binding of the flag is both exceptional from a textile connoisseur’s perspective and highly unusual. This is joined to the flag by treadle stitching. There are two brass grommets, one each at the top and bottom of the hoist, which are likewise especially unusual, in that they are both heavier than normal and intentionally hammered flat. I have seen this on only one other occasion in a Civil War flag...

ENTIRELY HAND-SEWN, 32-FOOT, SHIP’S COMMISSION PENNANT OF THE 1845-1865 ERA, A HOMEMADE, COTTON EXAMPLE, WITH 13 STARS ON A CORNFLOWER BLUE CANTON, IN A BEAUTIFUL STATE OF PRESERVATION Commission pennants are the distinguishing mark of a commissioned U.S. Navy ship. A ship becomes commissioned when the pennant is hoisted. Flown during both times of peace and war, the only time it is not flown is if a flag officer or civilian official is aboard and replaces it with their own flag. Flown at the topmast, this would be the first thing one would see coming over the horizon and identified the vessel as a warship. Sometimes the owners of private ships mimicked the use of Navy signals. Some seafaring men would have served in the Navy and become privy to various practices in that capacity. Others flew them purely for stylistic reasons, either on a regular basis or while the boat was dressed for special occasion. Hudson River steamers regularly flew pennants of this nature, as evidenced by period photography as well as the paintings of artists such as John and James Bard...