Items Similar to Stars & Stripe Pennant from the March on Washington, August 28, 1963

13 Star Commission Pennant, 6 Foot in Length, ca 1892-1910

U.S War Department Commissioning Pennant with 13 Stars

Commission Pennant with 13 Stars, like for Private Vessel, Ca 1892-1910

39 Star Antique American Parade Flag with Stars in Two Sizes, Ca 1876

13 Star Antique American Parade Flag, ca 1876-1899

42 Star Parade Flag with Scattered Stars, ca 1889-1890

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 8

Stars & Stripe Pennant from the March on Washington, August 28, 1963

Price Upon Request

Shipping

Retrieving quote...

The 1stDibs Promise:

Authenticity Guarantee,

Money-Back Guarantee,

24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

BOLDLY GRAPHIC AND UNUSUAL STARS & STRIPES PENNANT FROM THE ‘MARCH ON WASHINGTON’ OF AUGUST 28TH, 1963, WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING DELIVERED HIS HISTORIC "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH; THIS EXAMPLE EXHIBITED AT THE REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM OF MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY: Stars & Stripes flags, banners, and pennants, made during the 19th century, were sometimes adorned with interesting graphics and textual messages. This continued into the beginning of the 20th century but dwindled quickly during the first quarter. After this time, it is very unusual to find interesting adaptations of the American national flag, printed with patriotic and political messages, especially with aesthetics that seem to hail from the previous century. This fantastic and rare political pennant was flown in tribute of what would soon be touted as one of the most galvanizing events in American civil rights history. It would have been raised and waved by an attendee on that landmark day, in August of 1963, in our nation's capital, when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. Printed on paper, the triangular design is comprised of a vertical blue bar, on which 43 stars surround the words that served as the mantra of the 1960's black rights movement: "We Shall Overcome". Joan Baez sung the folk song of the same name that day at the parade, written by Pete Seeger and others, to the crowd in attendance estimated between 200,000 and 300,000. The star count has no specific meaning. The stars simply serve to decorate the text and complete the flag-like image. The blue bar is followed by a field of 17 stripes—again with their number merely decorative—on which the following words appear in the same blue ink: "I Marched for Equality in the Freedom Parade; August 28, 1963; Washington, D. C." The official title for the assembly was "The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." Two blue stars follow in the last white stripe, for unknown purpose, possibly once again for artistic balance. Today just a tiny handful of examples are known, in addition to this one. I acquired and sold three others, now in private collections. This exact pennant was lent by Jeff R. Bridgman Antiques, Inc. to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for Maryland African American History and Culture for an exhibit entitled "For Whom it Stands: The Flag and the American People," from May 17, 2014 – February 28, 2015. It is illustrated twice in a book by the same name, authored by Michelle Joan Wilkerson (2015, Reginald F. Lewis Museum for Maryland African American History and Culture), p. 22 and 61. One of the others, in a private collection in Washington, D.C., was carried by a woman by the name of Theresa Gehring, recollected in a story that she dictated to her son, documenting the day's events. Another is among the holdings of the Smithsonian. I also acquired a period photograph of one of these pennants in use on August 27th, 1963, affixed to an automobile antenna. The photo was taken by United Press International (UPI), during preparations for the event. At least two other images also survive of these pennants, being displayed by attendees of the march, on the same day. Provenance: (see above for exhibition history) Mounting: The solid walnut frame retains its original varnished surface and dates to the Civil War era. This is a pressure mount between 100% cotton velvet and U.V. protective plexiglass. Condition: The pennant was formerly framed, probably by the original owner, and it was folded at the top and bottom. There is pigment loss at the creases. Two punched holes allowed a wooden dowel to be inserted, which is an unusual method of affixing a staff. There are minor tears around the holes. The extreme tip at the fly end is slightly torn. There is minor soiling throughout. Because paper parade flags and pennants rarely survived, the state of preservation is expected and perfectly acceptable. Further, the extreme rarity warrants practically any condition.

Dimensions:
Height: 18.75 in (47.63 cm)Width: 24.75 in (62.87 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Paper
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1963
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: pat-2511stDibs: LU849744272432

More From This Seller

View All

13 Star Commission Pennant, 6 Foot in Length, ca 1892-1910

Located in York County, PA

6-FOOT SHIP’S COMMISSION PENNANT WITH A 5.5” HOIST AND 13 STARS IN 2 STAGGERED ROWS, LIKELY PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE VESSEL, circa 1892-1910 Commission pennants are the distinguishing...

Category

Antique 1890s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

13 Star Commission Pennant, 6 Foot in Length, ca 1892-1910

U.S War Department Commissioning Pennant with 13 Stars

Located in York County, PA

EXTREMELY RARE U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONING PENNANT WITH 13 STARS, A REVERSAL OF THE U.S. NAVY COLOR SCHEME, TWENTY-FOUR FEET ON THE FLY, SP...

Category

20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

U.S War Department Commissioning Pennant with 13 Stars

Price Upon Request

Commission Pennant with 13 Stars, like for Private Vessel, Ca 1892-1910

Located in York County, PA

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...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

Commission Pennant with 13 Stars, like for Private Vessel, Ca 1892-1910

Price Upon Request

39 Star Antique American Parade Flag with Stars in Two Sizes, 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 WITH AN UNUSUALLY ELONGATED PROFILE, DATING TO THE 1876 CENTENNIAL, NEVER AN OFFICI...

Category

Antique 1870s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

39 Star Antique American Parade Flag with Stars in Two Sizes, Ca 1876

$3,650

13 Star Antique American Parade Flag, ca 1876-1899

Located in York County, PA

13 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG, WITH A 3-2-3-2-3 CONFIGURATION OF STARS, AN EXTREMELY SCARCE AND UNUSUALLY LARGE VARIETY, MADE circa 1876-1899 13 star American national parade...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Canadian Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

13 Star Antique American Parade Flag, ca 1876-1899

Price Upon Request

42 Star Parade Flag with Scattered Stars, ca 1889-1890

Located in York County, PA

42 STARS ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH SCATTERED STAR POSITIONING, REFLECTS THE ADDITION OF WASHINGTON STATE, MONTANA, AND THE DAKOTAS, NEVER AN OFFICIAL STAR COUNT, circa 1889-18...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

42 Star Parade Flag with Scattered Stars, ca 1889-1890

Antique 1880s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

39-Star Antique American Flag with 'Whimsical' Star Pattern, 1889

$6,000

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

38-Star American Parade Flag, Flown at a Reception for President Grant, 1880

$15,500

19th Century American 39 Star Flag, circa 1889

Located in Nantucket, MA

19th Century American 39 Star Flag, circa 1889, a period printed silk parade flag with a wavy pattern of dancing stars. This was never an official flag of the United States but was m...

Category

Antique 1880s American Federal Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

19th Century American 39 Star Flag, circa 1889

$2,850

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

13-Star Flag Waver for the Centennial Celebration

$795

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

19th Century 39 Star American Flag, circa 1889

$3,900

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 brilliant blue canton is spectacular, with 81 five-pointed, rayed stars, arranged to read “1776” and “1876.” The flag’s design is completed with thirteen alternating red and white stripes. The flag is a three-piece, treadle-sewn sewn construction, printed on a thin wool and cotton blend. Along the edge, there is a narrow, treadle-sewn sleeve made of cotton tape. 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 and on, resurfaced in Centennial flags...

Category