13-Star Naval Ensign with Anchor, Circa 1877

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...

FREDERICK CHAPMAN: ‘Naval Architecture War Vessels’, circa 1770, , 50 engraved plates of various sizes depicting naval diagrams (numbered I-XXVI), four signed ‘F. Ringheim’and one ea...

Italian Naval jacket. Fabulous summer at home dinner jacket. Vintage white cotton button front jacket with multiple stitched darts, brass star detailing at collar, and removable cott...

ENTIRELY HAND-SEWN, 32-FOOT, SHIP’S COMMISSION PENNANT OF THE 1845-1865 ERA, A HOMEMADE, COTTON EXAMPLE, WITH 13 STARS ON A CORNFLOWER BLUE CANTON, IN A BEAUTIFUL STATE OF PRESERVATION Commission pennants are the distinguishing mark of a commissioned U.S. Navy ship. A ship becomes commissioned when the pennant is hoisted. Flown during both times of peace and war, the only time it is not flown is if a flag officer or civilian official is aboard and replaces it with their own flag. Flown at the topmast, this would be the first thing one would see coming over the horizon and identified the vessel as a warship. 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...

Framed American yacht ensign flag. Nautical flag with a blue panel that has an embroidered fouled anchor and thirteen stars, and red and white stripes with a canvas hoist and brass g...

Naval Officers dress uniform shoulder epaulets or "Boards". Nice epaulets, high quality with anchor rank bars eagle buttons. Made in France with metal box. 6" H x 10" W x 6" D. box. ...

American painted polished steel and brass single ship anchor lantern with original Fresnel lense, hoisting ring, protective cage, and original oil burner. Late 19th century Signed W...

Framed yacht ensign flag with embroidered fouled anchor surrounded by stars in the blue field. This panel identifies a vessel as a pleasure craft, not a commercial vessel. Weight: ...

Stadimeter dated 1919 from the U.S. Naval Gun Factory W. N.Y.. Mark IV No 253. Supt. A.L.W. inspector H.F. as engraved on plate. A label inside the lid of the varnished box has full ...

One pair of WWII Naval Binoculars with a magnification of 20 x 120. Mounted on a period tripod, these exceptional binoculars display entirely original optics in a distinctly Japanese...