Early 20th Century Quilts

Silk bands like these were used to wrap bunches of cigars. Beginning in the Victorian period, women saved them in order that they may be pieced together into decorative pillow tops,...

RARE HOMEMADE EXAMPLE OF THE “GRAND UNION”, THE FIRST NATIONAL FLAG OF AMERICA, LIKELY MADE IN 1926 FOR THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE: The “Grand Union” is the most commonly used name today for the first national flag of the United States. This was the design that was in use when America was still a colony of Britain. Like other outposts of the British Empire, this flag employs the Union Jack image in the canton, accompanied by a field that somehow reflects the respective colony; in this case, 13 red and white stripes. The Grand Union went by many names. 19th century flag historians seem to have preferred the term “Continental Grand Union”, but this language is not found in 18th century documents or literature. In the period, it was simply referred to as the “Continental” or “Union” flag (or colors). The first record of its use as a national ensign appears to be in an illustration of Philadelphia from the Delaware River by George Heap, which was published by British engraver G. Vandergucht in 1754. The image showed a heavily gunned ship flying a large Grand Union off the stern, with 9 instead of 13 stripes, accompanied by a small Union Jack flown off the bow and what appears to be a British commissioning pennant at the top mast. While the British East Indies...