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38-Star American Flag "Liberty" Patriotic Pennant, circa 1876

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  • 38-Star Antique American Flag with Unique Canton, circa 1876-1890
    Located in Colorado Springs, CO
    This is a striking 38-star American flag. The flag dates to 1876-1890, when Colorado (represented by the large star in the center of the flag’s canton) joined the Union as the 38th s...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Muslin

  • Centennial Celebration "1776-1876" American Flag Banner
    Located in Colorado Springs, CO
    Presented is a rare Centennial patriotic flag banner, dating to 1876. The flag’s rich blue canton is spectacular, with 81 five-pointed, rayed stars printed in white and arranged to read “1776” and “1876.” The flag’s design is completed with thirteen alternating red and white stripes. The fly is a two-piece, machine sewn construction. The hoist to this large wool flag has five brass rings, original to 1876. In the lead up to the nation’s Centennial in 1876, flag makers and individuals looked to the past for designs to produce as part of the country’s many celebrations. Popular interpretation of the stars and stripes undoubtedly reached its climax of variety and originality at the time of our Nation’s first Centennial. Since no design restrictions were placed on flagmaker’s imaginations and no strict distinctions were drawn between official and unofficial star counts, it is no surprise that, on the occasion of the Centennial, creativity in flag design was not the exception, but the rule. The cantons from this period presented an array of geometric abstractions. Great star patterns, referred to as the “starry flower of Liberty” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, that were popular from 1818...
    Category

    Antique 1870s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Wool

  • 48-Star Whipple Parade Pennant, Circa 1915
    Located in Colorado Springs, CO
    This is a beautiful example of a printed Whipple star flag pennant. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a contest to design a classical style of American heraldry was held....
    Category

    Vintage 1910s American Arts and Crafts Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Fabric

  • 36-Star Printed American Flag, Rare Haloed Star Medallion, Circa 1865
    Located in Colorado Springs, CO
    This 36-star flag has stars arranged in a gorgeous and highly desirable medallion pattern. This particular medallion includes a large haloed star in the middle, two rings of stars s...
    Category

    Antique 1860s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Fabric

  • 34-Star Civil War American Flag, Antique Great Star Pattern, circa 1861
    Located in Colorado Springs, CO
    The stars of this extremely rare, Civil War-era flag are arranged in what is sometimes called the "Great Flower" pattern, a large star made out of smaller stars -- named as such beca...
    Category

    Antique 1860s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Linen

  • 31-Star Printed American Flag, Celebrating California Statehood, Circa 1850
    Located in Colorado Springs, CO
    This is a rare 31-star medallion printed American flag, celebrating the addition of California to the Union. The flag is printed on silk and has a spectacular “Great Star” canton pat...
    Category

    Antique 1850s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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    Silk

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  • 38 Star Antique American Flag, Colorado Statehood, ca 1876-1889
    Located in York County, PA
    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...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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    Silk

  • 38 Star Antique American Flag, Colorado Statehood, ca 1876-1889
    Located in York County, PA
    38 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH HAND-SEWN STARS IN AN 8-7-8-7-8 PATTERN OF JUSTIFIED ROWS, MADE IN THE PERIOD WHEN COLORADO WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, 1876-1889 ...
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    Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

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    Wool

  • 38 Star Antique American Parade Flag, Colorado Statehood, ca 1876-1889
    Located in York County, PA
    38 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG WITH JUSTIFIED ROWS OF 7-6-6-6-6-7 AND SCATTERED STAR ORIENTATION, MADE DURING THE PERIOD WHEN COLORADO WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNI...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Cotton

  • 38 Star American Flag, Stars in Notched Pattern, ca 1876-1889
    Located in York County, PA
    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...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Wool

  • 38 Star Antique American Flag by Horstman Brothers, Colorado Statehood, ca 1876
    Located in York County, PA
    38 CANTED STARS IN STAGGERED ROWS, ON A CLAMP-DYED, WOOL, ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG MADE BY THE HORSTMANN BROTHERS IN PHILADELPHIA, ALMOST CERTAINLY FOR DISPLAY AT THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION; A VERY RARE EXAMPLE WITH STRONG COLORS AND GREAT TEXTURE; REFLECTS COLORADO STATEHOOD 38 star American flag, press-dyed on wool bunting, with wonderful texture and great colors. Made by Horstmann Brothers of Philadelphia, a major military outfitter, the flag is signed along the hoist with a black stencil. The stars of the flag are arranged in lineal rows of 8-7-8-7-8. Note how these are universally canted, with one point directed at roughly 11:00, when the flag is viewed on the obverse (front). This particular style of flag, from Horstmann, is exceedingly rare. Measuring approximately two by three feet, I know of just four examples in total, including this flag, all of which I have had the great privilege to own. The first two I acquired about 20 years ago. I was not yet taking digital imagery at the time, and cannot seem to locate them among my files of hard copy prints and negatives. I believe they displayed in the same configuration of staggered rows. The example that I owned more recently bore the staggered row layout, but had exceedingly crude printing, whimsical and interesting in its own right. All, I believe, have displayed their stars slightly canted at an angle, like the flag that is the subject of this narrative. A close variation that I acquired about 11 or 12 years ago also had canted stars. It was in the same scale and shared the same 8-7-8-7-8 distribution, but the rows were not staggered. Instead these were justified toward the fly end. Because the spacing was inconsistent, the resulting formation was not what one might expect, with perfect spaces for two additional stars along the hoist end (a “notched” pattern). Horstman flags made of press-dyed wool sometimes had formal bindings, sometimes had a length of fabric tape stitched along the hoist, and sometimes had no binding at all. This one has a traditional binding, made of heavy cotton twill, in the form of an open sleeve, treadle-sewn along the hoist. Near the top of this, “2 x 3 Ft.” appears in a black inked stencil, near the top, accompanied by “Horstmann. Phila.” Near the bottom. 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 continued 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) are more often seen at the Centennial Expo. Some flag-makers would have been adding a star for the 38th state even before it entered the Union, in the early part of 1876 or even prior. In fact, many makers of parade flags were actually producing 39 star flags, in hopeful anticipation of the addition of two more Western Territories instead of one. But the 39th state would not join the Union for another 13 years, when the Dakota Territory entered as two states on the same day. The 38 star flag became official on July 4th, 1877 and was generally used until the addition of the Dakotas in 1889. Press-dyed wool flags are scarcer than those printed on cotton and silk. Because parade flags were often intended for one day's use at a parade, political rally, a reunion of soldiers, or some other patriotic event, most were made of cotton. While cotton absorbs water, short-term use precluded the need for anything more hardy. Because the Centennial Exposition lasted for a period of six months, it required decorative flags that would sustain being flown for a longer time and withstand the elements. It is reasonable to assume that press-dyed wool flags were adapted for precisely this purpose, because wool sheds water is suitable for extended outdoor use. Previous to this time they primarily saw military function. A Brief History of the Horstmann Company: William H. Horstmann (1785-1850) was the founder of what would become a major military outfitter in both Philadelphia and New York City. A solider and fourth generation passementier (textile weaver), he emigrated to the United States from Germany in 1816 and settled in the Germantown area of Philadelphia, where there was a significant concentration of textile manufacture. There he married the daughter of the most successful lace manufacturing firm, and started his own business in coach lace and military goods at the corner of 59 North 3rd Street. He imported looms from Germany and elsewhere and maintained a regular trade with his family in Europe. The company grew exponentially in size and had many addresses over its years of operation. In 1828, the William H. Horstmann Military Store opened. In 1843 it became William H. Horstmann & Sons Military Store, and in 1859 it was taken over by sons, Sigmund H. and William J., and began to operate as Horstmann Bros. & Co. The company manufactured its own goods, including flags, swords, drums, insignia, and many other items, and it subcontracted their manufacture as well, depending on financial sensibility. There were investors along the way, such as William S. Hassall and George Evans, who broke off and began their own large and successful firm. The New York branch changed its name in 1877 to that of a Horstmann partner, H.V. Allien. Both Philadelphia and New York branches filed for bankruptcy and closed in 1948. Because of its Philadelphia location, Horstmann was in a unique position to supply flags and banners to the 1876 Centennial International Exposition, and thus served an integral role in decorating the enormous, six-month long event. It is logical to presume that this extremely interesting and rare flag...
    Category

    Antique 1870s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Cotton

  • 39 Star Antique American Flag, Dakota Territories, ca 1876
    Located in York County, PA
    39 STARS IN TWO SIZES, ALTERNATING FROM ONE COLUMN TO THE NEXT, ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG DATING TO THE 1876 CENTENNIAL, NEVER AN OFFICIAL STAR COUNT,...
    Category

    Antique 1870s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

    Materials

    Cotton

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