
Spectacular 38 Star Flag With A Very Rare Star Variation
View Similar Items
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Spectacular 38 Star Flag With A Very Rare Star Variation
About the Item
38 star American national flag, made following the addition of Colorado in 1876, with its stars arranged in an especially graphic rendition of what is known as the "Great Star" pattern. This consists of a large star in the very center, with a series of smaller stars around it, arranged in such a fashion that together they form the profile of a much larger star.
This rare variation of the Great Star has a star between each arm, where most do not. In fact, note that there are actually 2 stars between the arms on the hoist end. The basic pattern--with 1 star between each arm as opposed to 2--very clearly mimics printed parade flags of the 1850-60 era, which look distinctly like this 38-star example, but with fewer stars. The presentation is not unlike exploding fireworks and is particularly striking.
Among collectors, the Great Star is the most coveted of all geometric designs. It probably came about shortly after the War of 1812, when Congressman Peter Wendover, of New York, requested that Captain Samuel Reid, a War of 1812 naval hero, sought to create a new design that would become the third official format of the Stars & Stripes. A recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Reid became harbor master of New York following the war. During his lifetime, he created many innovations in signal use, including a system that could actually send messages from New York to New Orleans by sea in just two hours.
Use as a Naval signal had been the primary reason for the initial creation of an American national flag in the first place, in 1777, but since there was no official star design, the appearance of our flag varied greatly. So Reid and Wendover’s primary concern centered on both consistency and ease of recognition. Their hope was as more and more states joined the Union and more and more stars were added to the flag, that it would remain easily identified on the open seas. So in 1818, Reid suggested to Congress that the number of stripes permanently return to 13 (reduced from 15) and that the stars be grouped into the shape of one large star.
Reid’s proposal would have kept the star constellation in roughly the same format, in a pattern that could be quickly identified through a spyglass as the number of states grew. His concept for the stripes was ultimately accepted, but his advice on the star pattern was rejected by President James Monroe, due to the increased cost of arranging the stars in what would become known as the “Great Star”, “Great Flower”, or “Great Luminary” pattern. Monroe probably didn’t wish to impose this cost on either the government or civilians, so he suggested a simple pattern of justified rows. Never-the-less, the Great Star was produced by anyone willing to make it and its rarity today, along with its beauty, has driven the desirability of American flags with this configuration.
In summary, this is one of the most graphic great star flags that I have ever seen, which places it among the very best examples of the period.
Great Star designs take on many forms. In this particular example, note that there is a star between each arm of the large star and that there is a triangle of three stars in the very center.
The 38th state, Colorado, joined the Union on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation’s centennial of independence from Great Britain. Although 37 was the official star count in 1876, flag-making was a competitive venture and no one wanted to be making 37 star flags when others were making 38’s. It is for this reason that 38 and 13 (to reference the original 13 colonies) are the two star counts most often seen during the centennial events.
The 38 star flag was generally used until 1889, when four new states joined the Union. Decorative star patterns, however, like this one, tend to be seen on 38 star flags that were made specifically for 1876 events, such as the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, a six-month long, World’s Fair event, held in conjunction with the nation’s anniversary.
Construction: The stars of the flag are made of cotton, hand-sewn, and double-appliquéd. This means that they were applied to both sides of the canton. The stripes were joined with treadle stitching. There is a cotton sleeve with 2 brass grommets.
Mounting: The flag has been hand-sewn to 100% natural fabric for support on every seam and throughout the star field. Fabric of similar coloration was used for masking purposes. The flag was then hand-stitched to 100% cotton twill, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic.
Condition: The binding along the hoist is not original to the flag. It is a blue and white, ticking stripe, herringbone weave cotton tape, period to the flag's construction, used to complete the unfinished edge. There is minor foxing and staining throughout, accompanied by minor fading.
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1876-1889
- Condition:See Item Description.
- Seller Location:York County, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: 38j-9591stDibs: U1109198497456
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1991
1stDibs seller since 2008
70 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 16 hours
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View All38 Star American Parade Flags with Stars in a Great Star Pattern
Located in York County, PA
38 STAR AMERICAN PARADE FLAG WITH A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL VARIATION OF THE “GREAT STAR” OR “GREAT FLOWER” PATTERN, 4 LARGE CORNER STARS, & AN ODD OUTLIER, 1876-1889, COLORADO STATEHOOD,...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Silk
Price Upon Request
38 Star Parade Flag with Whimsical 6-Pointed Stars, Colorado Statehood
Located in York County, PA
38 WHIMSICAL STARS, WITH 6-POINTED PROFILES, SIMILAR TO THE STAR OF DAVID, ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG OF THE CENTENNIAL ERA; A REMARKABLE SPECIMEN, ONE-OF-A-KIND AMONG KNOWN EXAMPLE...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Price Upon Request
38 Star Rare Circle in A Square Horstmann Brothers Made American Flag, ca 1876
Located in York County, PA
38 STARS IN A RARE AND STRIKING CIRCLE-IN-A-SQUARE MEDALLION, WITH AN ENORMOUS CENTER STAR, MADE FOR THE 1876 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION BY HORSTMANN BROTHERS OF PHILADELPHIA, A MAJOR MI...
Category
Antique 1870s Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Wool
38 Star Antique American Flag, Colorado Statehood, circa 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
Materials
Silk
Price Upon Request
13 Star American Parade Flag with Rare Design, circa 1888 Ex Richard Pierce
Located in York County, PA
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...
Category
Antique 1880s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
13 Star Rare Parade Flag, Advertising Hop Bitters, circa 1876
Located in York County, PA
13 STARS IN AN UNUSUAL PATTERN ON A RARE PAPER PARADE FLAG WITH ADVERTISING HOP BITTERS, PROBABLY DISTRIBUTED FOR THE 1876 CENTENNIAL; EXHIBITED AT THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUT...
Category
Antique 1870s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Paper
Price Upon Request
You May Also Like
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
39-Star Antique American Flag with 'Whimsical' Star Pattern, 1889
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a 39-star unofficial American flag, handmade and printed on cotton. The flag dates to 1889 and has a unique history, thanks to its rare star-count.
The flag’s canton is prin...
Category
Antique 1880s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
38-Star American Parade Flag, Flown at a Reception for President Grant, 1880
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a beautifully colored 38-star American parade flag, flown at a public reception for Ulysses S. Grant in October of 1880. This printed flag features a rare, triple medallion s...
Category
Antique 1880s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
Large 48 Star Embroidered Flag Pillow
By American Flag & Banner Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monumental 48 star flag pillow is in great in great condition and has a red cotton linen pillow. The big pillow id down and feather fill.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Country Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Cotton
$476 Sale Price
20% Off
13-Star Flag Waver for the Centennial Celebration
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This small charming 13-star flag waver was made for and sold during the nation’s Centennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1876. All manner of flags were made for the official Centen...
Category
Antique 1870s American Federal Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Fabric
19th Century 39 Star American Flag, circa 1889
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century 39 Star American Flag, circa 1889, a printed linen ensign with 39 stars arranged in a wavy star pattern, with stripes in a very unus...
Category
Antique 1880s American Federal Political and Patriotic Memorabilia
Materials
Linen
On Hold
$3,900
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Blue Star Flag
Sea Captains 19th
World War 2 Memorabilia
Antique Spyglass
Brass Spyglass
38 Star Flag
38 Star American Flag
Antique 38 Star American Flag
37 Star Flag
World War 2 American Flag
Profile Medallion
Framed American Flags
Antique Brass Star
19th Century American Flag
Hand Painted Banner
Black Southern Folk Art
Antique Ship Anchor Anchors
Antique Stripe Fabric