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38 Star Antique American Flag, Colorado Statehood, ca 1876-1889

About the Item

38 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG IN A TINY SCALE AMONG THOSE WITH PIECED-AND-SEWN CONSTRUCTION, WITH BEAUTIFUL & UNUSUAL SHADE OF BLUE AND WITH A NOTCHED CONFIGURATION OF STARS THAT LEAVES ROOM FOR WESTERN TERRITORIES THAT HAD YET TO BE ADDED; REFLECTS THE PERIOD WHEN COLORADO WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, 1876-1889 8 star Antique American flag, made during the period when Colorado was the most recent state to join the Union, with some wonderful and desirable features. Chief among these are the size, colors, and star configuration, the combination of which makes for a significant, notable example among those any collector is likely to encounter. At just under 2 feet on the hoist and approximately 3.75 feet on the fly, this is an exceptionally tiny flag among its counterparts with sewn construction (as opposed to printed), within the period that it was made. This is especially true among those made of wool bunting, with cotton stars, that reflect the most traditional expected fabrics in the commercially made flags of this era. In the 19th century, commercially-made examples of the Stars & Stripes with sewn construction, that displayed the full star count, to represent the number of states in the Union at that particular point in time, were typically eight feet long and larger. Because both collectors and one-time buyers of early flags almost always face size constraints with regard to display, this is not only an extraordinarily rare feature, but a very desirable one as well. It wasn’t until sometime within the 48 star period that sewn flags in the full star count began to appear in any significant quantity in lengths of 3-4 feet on the fly. Colorado joined the Union as 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 remained the official star count until July 4th, 1877. Flag-making was a competitive venture, however, and no one cared what was official. As soon as it was suspected that a new state was coming, stars were often added by the makers of flags, both public and private. Some would have begun adding a star for the 38th state before it even entered the Union, in the early part of 1876, and almost none continued to produce 37 star flags when their competitors were making 38’s. It is for this reason that flags with 38 and 13 stars, the latter to reflect the original 13 colonies, are most frequently encountered at the Centennial International Exposition, the six-month long World’s Fair, held in Philadelphia, that served as the nucleus of the national celebration. It is of interest to note that many makers of printed parade flags were actually producing 39 star examples in that same year, in hopeful anticipation of the addition of two more Western Territories instead of just one. The 39th state would not join the Union for another 13 years, however, when the Dakota Territory, entered as two states (numbers 39 and 40) on the same day, on November 2nd, 1889. Montana entered just a few days later, on November 8th, followed by Washington State on November 11th. So within a period of just 9 days, 4 new states had joined the Union. It was at this time that the 38 star flag fell from regular use. Note the flag’s attractive colors, in particular the canton, which falls somewhere between a rather unusual and especially attractive shade of Prussian blue and what I often call steel blue. This contrasts wonderfully with the scarlet red of the stripes. Also note the flag’s elongated profile, the proportions of which are both uncommon and visually impactful. The stars are configured in what is known as a "notched" pattern, that leaves two spaces open for the addition of Western Territories that had yet to be added. The latter 19th century was a time 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 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 by a combination of both hand and treadle stitching. Most flags made during the 38 star period include combinations of these methods, though not in this particular manner, in which the red and white were joined by treadle machine and the hem was finished by hand. When viewed on the obverse (front), only hand-stitching is visible throughout, which is at the same time fortunate—as this is the better looking side of this particular flag, in general—and, in its own right, contributes to the flag’s attractive presentation, especially among viewers who can identify and appreciate hand-stitching in early American textiles. The canton is constructed from two separate lengths of fabric, as are 3 of the red stripes, the presence of which reflects the efficient use of that which was available to the maker. There is a hand-sewn binding along the hoist, made of wool bunting, in the form of an open sleeve, through which a length of breaded cord or a wooden staff could be threaded, so that the flag could be displayed. President Ulysses S. Grant was in office when the first 38 star flags would have appeared. The list of presidents serving during the period when the 38 star flag was actually official, include Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained a specialized department for this purpose. Our lead conservator holds a master's degree in textile conservation from one of the nation’s top programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples. The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. The black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed molding is Italian. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). Feel free to contact us for more details. Condition: There is minor mothing in limited areas and there is some fabric breakdown along the hoist, primarily at the top, but the overall condition is exceptional for a wool flag of this period. Frame Size (H x L): 34.5" x 57" Flag Size (H x L): 23" x 45.5"

Dimensions:
Height: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)Width: 57 in (144.78 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Wool
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1870-1879
Date of Manufacture:
1876-1889
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 38j-11441stDibs: LU849742228602

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