Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

West Point Pennant with Striking Colors and Graphics, ca 1940-1950

$1,650
£1,254.45
€1,447.69
CA$2,309.56
A$2,586.09
CHF 1,349.29
MX$31,509.58
NOK 17,121.55
SEK 16,278.03
DKK 10,806.04
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

WEST POINT PENNANT WITH STRIKING COLOR & GRAPHICS, WWII ERA - 1950's Triangular pennant, made for the United States Military Academy at West Point, with exceptional colors and graphics. Made of golden yellow and black felted wool, the Academy's coat of arms appears first, toward the hoist, on a black register that comprises about 2/5 of the length of the textile. Printed in yellow, red, white, green, and brown, the colorful image consists of a spread winged eagle, perched upon a federal shield with 13 stars and 13 pales (vertical stripes) in red and white. Along the top edge of the shield is what appears to be a single arrow. Branches of oak leaves are grasped to the left and right. Emerging from behind the eagle is a billowing streamer that reads: "Duty, Honor, Country" the Academy's motto, with “West Point,” followed by the date of its founding in Roman numerals, "1802," and “U.S.M.A.” A sword and the helmet of Athena, Greek Goddess of War, are superimposed upon the shield. “West Point” is printed in black pigment, in a tapering, Old English font, along the golden yellow field that follows. There is a golden yellow binding along the hoist with two sets of black felt ties. Likely made in the WWII era or shortly thereafter, circa 1940’s – 1950’s, one may note that there are several inaccuracies in the crest. The eagle is supposed to be clutching arrows in both talons. The greenery depicted is intended to consist of oak leaves to the eagle’s proper right and an olive branch to its left. Unlike the official layout of the American national flag, which has stripes that begin and end on red, the stripes on a heraldic shield are, according to the rules of heraldry, supposed to begin and end on white. Deviations of this sort are so ramped in early American patriotic devices that variation tends to be the rule, as opposed to the exception. Flag collectors tend to favor intriguing peculiarities such as these, since it makes them more interesting. One may note that even with hallowed institutions, such as West Point, which thrive on proper etiquette, order, and presentation, details such as these, in early flags, banners, and the like, persisted for decades. Whatever the case may be with regard to official specifications, this is a beautiful patriotic object with great colors and graphics, from America’s most hallowed military institution. Mounting: The pennant was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert staff. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and have framed thousands of examples. The background is 100% natural hemp fabric or a hemp and cotton blend, ivory in color, with a twill weave. The two-part frame consists of a black-painted, shadowbox style molding with a bowed face and a textured surface, to which a black-painted and hand-gilded Italian molding, with a beveled profile, was added as a liner. A shadowbox was created to accommodate the ties, which were mounted in a 3-D fashion. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas). Condition: There are two tiny nicks along the lower edge of the golden felt, and there is extremely minor soiling, but there are no significant condition issues. Frame Size (H x L): 17.75" x 37.75" Flag Size (H x L): 8.5" x 26.5"
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.75 in (45.09 cm)Width: 37.75 in (95.89 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1940-1950
  • Condition:
    See Item Description.
  • Seller Location:
    York County, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: pat-7271stDibs: LU849738541282

More From This Seller

View All
Stars & Stripe Pennant from the March on Washington, August 28, 1963
Located in York County, PA
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 E...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

West Point Window Banner, Made Approx. US Involvement in WWI (1917-1918)
Located in York County, PA
PATRIOTIC WEST POINT WINDOW BANNER, PROBABLY MADE AROUND THE TIME OF U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN WWI (1917-18), A WONDERFUL EAMPLE WITH THE ACADEMY CREST & A SALMON RED BINDING Small window...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

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

United State Marine Corps Parris Island Pennant ca 1917-1930
Located in York County, PA
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS PENNANT FROM PARRIS ISLAND, circa WWI (U.S. INVOLVEMENT 1917-18) -1930’s Faded, red, felt, United States Marine Corps pennant with a variant of the central device of its official seal printed in blue, yellow, gold, tan, and white pigments, and “Parris Island S.C.” in white beyond, slightly arched, extending toward the tapered point. Note the whimsical profile of the letter “c,” with an exaggerated, scrolling tail. The device generally consists of a federal eagle perched upon a globe, superimposed on a canted anchor with a whirling chain, the combination of which is to symbolize the Corps’ watchful, worldwide, maritime presence. In this instance the image was modified to fit the elongated profile of a pennant’s basic design, with the anchor rotated slightly clockwise to the horizontal, an adaptation sometimes encountered in both Marine Corps and U.S. Navy examples. The colors used to represent the Marine Corps changed over time. The present combination of scarlet red and gold, predominant here, were formally adopted in 1925, but American military traditions tend to be as hard to extinguish as the men and women of their ranks, and the Corps was certainly no exception. 14 years would pass before the official change caught up with the Marine Corps’ flag...
Category

Early 20th Century Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

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

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

You May Also Like

Princeton University Pennant Banner, circa 1920-1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage Princeton University pennant banners with sewn letters and tassels. Creator A & Co. New York, Wright & Ditson Athletic. Date of manufa...
Category

Early 20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Felt

University of Pennsylavania Vintage Pennant by Collegiate Ames
Located in Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylavania Vintage Pennant by Collegiate Ames "in good vintage conditions" "size does not include tassels"
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

Vintage Air Force Academy Falcons Pennant, Circa 1950s
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a vintage Air Force Academy felt pennant, circa 1950s. The pennant has a dark blue field with a white headband and no ties. Printed in r...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Felt

Framed Nautical Bow Pennant with Anchor
Located in Norwell, MA
Framed nautical pennant on mast with a red field and white fouled anchor by Taylor. Fitted to a custom shadow box. Weight is 9 pounds.
Category

Vintage 1950s Nautical Objects

Materials

Cotton

Nautical Signal Pennant in Shadowbox Frame
Located in Norwell, MA
Genuine international maritime signal flag in a custom shadowbox frame. The cotton flag represents the substitute flag R3. The pennant has a white canvas hoist with a sisal rope and ...
Category

Vintage 1950s North American Nautical Objects

Materials

Cotton

"Washington Bicentennial 1732-1932" Parade Flag, Printed Gold and Blue, c. 1932
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a George Washington Bicentennial parade flag from 1932. The flag is printed with gold, white, and blue stripes, with a prominent bust portrait of George Washington at ce...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Fabric, Wood