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Historical Memorabilia

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Historical Memorabilia For Sale
France Art Deco Horse, 1940
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
It was exhibited in the original Miami beach antique show and Palm beach "American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF)". Horse in wood and chrome. We ha...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Chrome

1900s Belgian Metal and Wooden Wall Decorations, Set of Nine
Located in High Point, NC
A set of nine curiosities made in Belgium, circa 1900. Nine metal screens tensed on wooden frames and strengthened with wooden strips, hung through small metal clasps. The dark oxidi...
Category

Early 1900s Belgian Rustic Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Israeli Iron and Enamel Street Sign
Located in New York, NY
Three languages iron and enamel street sign, circa 1920. The sign was made to Honor Bezalel who was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant...
Category

Early 20th Century Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Enamel, Iron

19th Century French Cast Iron Brazier
Located in High Point, NC
Muscular yet elegant, this cast iron brazier makes a unique antique centerpiece. Made in France in the 1800s, this piece would have originally been...
Category

19th Century French Rustic Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Iron

SET OF SIX SPOONS AND LADLE IN PORTUGUESE SILVER 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
SET OF SIX SPOONS AND LADLE IN PORTUGUESE SILVER 19th Century with relief and openwork decoration with 'Boar II' hallmarks of 833 milesimas, dated 1887-1937. In original case. Signs...
Category

19th Century Portuguese Baroque Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Silver

1950s Belgian Transportation Sign
Located in High Point, NC
A vintage Belgian wooden sign made circa 1950. This retired transportation sign used to hang over a Brussels tram stop, printed neatly in French an...
Category

1950s Belgian Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

19th Century Fruitwood Mortar and Pestle
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
19th century fruitwood mortar and pestle. Lathe work, remnants of paint or dark stain. Original pestle included. Period: First half of the 19th century Origin: Eastern, US Size: 5" ...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Fruitwood

Mail pouch in maroquin rouge, 19th century
Located in PARIS, FR
Red leather pouch to carry or deliver the mail with flap, decorated with gilt fleur-de-lys arabesques. Interior, two pockets, and a smaller one with flap. A folding gusset allows to ...
Category

1860s French Napoleon III Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Leather

Vintage 7.5 Foot Black Wood Guess Cultural Advertising Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage 7.5 Foot Black Wood Guess Cultural Advertising Sign Vintage 7.5 foot wood black "Guess Parfum" signature question mark advertising sign. This sign would be perfect for a fas...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wood, Paint

Olympiade, 1956
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Olympiade 1956 book, Cortina D'Ampezzo.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Historical Memorabilia

Year 1901 Poster W End of the World Prophecies of St Malachy and 10 Future Popes
Located in Marbella, ES
Year 1901 Poster with End of the World Prophecies of St. Malachy and Ten Future Popes.
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Iron

Japanese Sculpture Okimono of a Dutchman, Dutch Colonial, 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, NL
An extremely rare wood Japanese Okimono of a Dutchman playing with a bat Edo period, 18th-19th century or earlier The Dutchman is standing and h...
Category

Early 18th Century Japanese Edo Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Boxwood

Royal Naval Ship’s Elm Companionway Board
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Royal Naval ship’s elm companionway board, of rectangular form with an arched top and two sturdy brass rings, naively carved with a crowned coat of arms flanked by a lion and unicorn...
Category

1860s English Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Elm

Joined at the Heart, Signed by Al and Tipper Gore, First Edition, 2002
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Gore, Al and Tipper. Joined at the Heart. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2002. First Edition. Signed by both authors. Octavo. In publisher’s original white cloth spine, titled in ...
Category

Early 2000s American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

Pair of Signed Antique Repouse Metal Wall Plaques of Noble or Historical Men
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of antique wall plaques are possibly signed by an unknown artist, or identify the respective individuals in both, and are presumed to ori...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

Pair Chinese Double Luck Lotus Slippers, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
These pointed silk slippers are beautifully embroidered with colorful bats and golden coins, symbols of happiness and good luck, and were shaped to resemble a lotus bud to enhance one's bound feet. A practice that began in the Tang dynasty and reached the height of its popularity during the Qing dynasty, foot binding was a painful process intended to make a woman's feet as small as possible by restricting bone growth from an early age. The smaller the feet the more attractive and erotic they were, giving elite women a mark of elegance and a distinctive, albeit tortured, gait of small, light steps. These beautifully preserved lotus slippers...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Fabric, Silk

People's Republic of China Porcelain Group, circa 1965
Located in Paris, FR
Porcelain group of the Chinese revolution, representing a soldier and peasant allies to the future. The inscription in Chinese means "army and peo...
Category

1960s Chinese Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matched pair of Plateau parfleche packets with diamonds and stylized flowers and brain tanned ties. Difficult to find a pair. Very nice, rare design. The term parfleche was first co...
Category

Early 1900s American Native American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Other

Mid-20th Century Israeli Brass Hanukkah Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Cast brass made in Israel, circa 1950. Hebrew word "Hanukkah" written across oil jug between two flames. Cast with green patina overlay with gilded accents. Marked on the bottom "M...
Category

Mid-20th Century Israeli Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Brass

18th Century Palanquin for Child
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Palanquin. A child used this palanquin, an enclosed chair carried on the shoulders of four or more people supported by two long poles t...
Category

Mid-18th Century Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Velvet

Pair of Warship Paintings by Charles De Lacy, British, 1856-1929
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A pair of original gauche paintings by Charles John de Lacy, illustrating the interior of two different warships. These detailed cutaway technical drawings wer...
Category

19th Century British Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paint

Le Poulain Original Decorative Motorcycle
Located in Zedelgem, BE
Decorative motorbike of the 50's - 60's, it does run but needs a bit of tender loving care, a truly fun item.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Other Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Iron

Carved and Shaped Teak Seat Back from the Launch of Minesweeper H M S Bluebell
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A carved and shaped teak seat back from the launch of minesweeper H M S Bluebell, of shaped rectangular form with a central panel with 3in brass lettering HMS Bluebell, with braced b...
Category

1910s English Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Teak

20th Century Polished Metal Valet Torso, c.1980
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
This quirky valet is from the iconic 80's, it has a polished metal torso with brass details, the style echos of a "Gaultier Corset". The body stands above ...
Category

20th Century British Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

19th Century Solid Wood Coffee Table
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century solid wood coffee table. Above it has a glass back In the centre it has a brass pot for flowers. Measures: 50 cm high and 110 c...
Category

Late 19th Century French Modern Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wood

Coeur D'alene Tribe Moccasins
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene tribe moccasins with very thin hide and beadwork. Fawn or antelope. Simple classic design. Neat display - shows use. Period: Last half of the 19th century Origin: Coe...
Category

Late 19th Century American Native American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Animal Skin

Copper and Brass Country Grain Separator
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Copper and brass grain separator from Iowa; complete. Seedburo equipment company, Chicago 1912. Period: Last half of the 20th century. Origin: Iowa Si...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Brass, Copper

Framed and Signed Photograph of Jerry McCree and Junio
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Signed studio photo with original signature "To Claire - In appreciation of all you have done. Your two friends - Jerry McCree and Junior". Period: First half 20th century Origin: H...
Category

1910s American Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Art Glass

Gene Autry, Eddie Dean and Lash Larue SignedStudio Photographs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Three 8" x 10" studio photos of Gene Autry, Eddie Dean and Lash Larue all with original signatures. PERIOD: Mid 20th Century ORIGIN: Hollywood SIZE: 8" x 1...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Art Glass

Elizabeth II Commemorative Coronation Tyg
Located in New Orleans, LA
Created to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this engraved glass tyg is a beautiful celebration of this historic event. Held at Westminster Abb...
Category

20th Century English Other Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Glass

Bronze Workers Stools by Bahraini-Danish and Fonderia Artistica Battaglia
Located in Pireaus-Athens, Greece
Along the line of tradition in sculpture, Bahraini-Danish create an object that commemorates workers who, with their abilities, turn ideas into matter. Bahraini-Danish have been coll...
Category

2010s Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Bronze

Joe DiMaggio’s Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award
Located in New Orleans, LA
Very few athletes reach the level of fame and recognition as Yankee center fielder Joe DiMaggio. One of the most recognizable icons of the mid-20th century, the Yankee Clipper is regarded among America's most enduring intergenerational heroes. This award — the Jim Thorpe...
Category

20th Century North American Other Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Crystal

George VI Coin Coronation Goblet
Located in New Orleans, LA
A special silver coin commemorating the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth is inset into the base of this limited edition glass goblet. Crafted...
Category

20th Century English Other Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Glass

1891 Map of Norfolk County Massachusetts
Located in Norwell, MA
1891 map of Norfolk county Massachusetts including the towns of Wrentham, Franklin, Medfield, Sherborn, Norwood etc., measures: 23 x 31.
Category

19th Century Antique Historical Memorabilia

Wilson Chilton’s mahogany Naval Architects/draughtsman box of curves/templates
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Wilson Chilton’s mahogany Naval Architects/Naval draughtsman box of curves and templates, probably by Gillows still retaining around 100 superb quality...
Category

19th Century English Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Mahogany

Fourteen Point Star Badge
By George Ward
Located in London, GB
A 14 point star Badge made by George Ward of Manchester and assayed in Chester in 1843  Engraved with "Presented to PCR George Heathcote by members of No...
Category

19th Century English Antique Historical Memorabilia

Dish Commemorating Franklin’s Discovery of Electricity by L De Boynes
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Polychrome dish commemorating Benjamin Franklin’s Discovery of Electricity by L De Boynes Benjamin Franklin one of the founding fathers of the USA and a very brilliant scientist...
Category

1950s Machine Age Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Ceramic

Ancient Cotton Painted Burial Shroud Peru AD 688-899 Extremely Rare- Provenance
Located in Doha, QA
This wonderful complete painted textile was probably made to be the final wrapping for a burial shroud. What is fascinating about the piece is that although it was used as a vestment...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Peruvian Pre-Columbian Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

48 Star Crocheted Homemade American Flag, WWII Era, 1941-1945
Located in York County, PA
48 star, crocheted, antique american flag of the wwii era (1941-1945), a beautiful, homemade example, with a red, white, & blue hoist and flower-like stars: Crocheted American flag of the WWII era (U.S. involvement 1941-1945), with some interesting and beautiful features. Made entirely of cotton, the flag’s most notable attribute is the red, white, and blue color of its hoist. This was carefully stitched to the canton and the striped field with white cotton floss or yarn. The 48 crocheted stars are appliquéd to a length of navy blue plain weave cotton. With pierced centers, note how these more closely resemble flowers than stars, tipped this way and that on their vertical axis. Large, with respect to the canton on which they are placed, note how these crowd their boundaries and overlap into the field. The elongated format of the flag is also of interest and contributes to the bold presentation, as do the strong colors. Most crocheted flags are smaller than this one, or date to a much later period (namely the 1976...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

1840 Campaign Kerchief of William Henry Harrison on Horseback
Located in York County, PA
1840 campaign kerchief featuring an image of William Henry Harrison on horseback in military garb, one of the first known campaign textiles in e...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

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

1880s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

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

Late 19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

38 Star Antique Flag, Stars in Double Wreath Pattern, Colorado Statehood 1876-89
Located in York County, PA
38 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH A DOUBLE-WREATH CONFIGURATION THAT FEATURES AN ENORMOUS CENTER STAR, REFLECTS THE PERIOD OF COLORADO STATEHOOD, 1876-1889: 38 star American national flag, made entirely of plain weave cotton. The stars are arranged in a medallion configuration. This features an enormous center star, surrounded by two wreaths of much smaller stars, with a flanking star in each corner of the blue canton. The sort of disparity here, present in the scale of the large star, versus those around it, is both exceptionally unusual and graphically dynamic. Colorado became the 38th state on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation’s centennial. Per the Third Flag Act of 1818, stars were not officially added until the 4th of July following a state's addition. For this reason, 37 remained the official star count for the American flag until part way through the following year. Flag-making was a competitive venture, however, and few flag-makers would have continued to produce 37 star flags when their competitors were making 38’s. Many flag-makers added a 38th star before Colorado entered the Union, in the early part of 1876, or possibly even prior. In fact, many makers of printed flags, called parade flags or hand-wavers, were actually producing flags in the 39 star count, in hopeful anticipation of the addition of two more Western Territories instead of one. It is for these reasons that 38, 39, and 13 stars, to representing the original 13 colonies, are most often seen on flags displayed at the Centennial International Exhibition. Hosted in Philadelphia, this enormous event was our nation’s first World’s Fair, lasted for a duration of six months, and served as the nucleus of celebrations held to honor America’s 100-year anniversary of independence. The 38 star flag became official on July 4th, 1877 and was generally used until the 39th state was added in November of 1889. This is probably a homemade flag, though sewn by a very skilled hand, or possibly, by two different individuals. The stripes are pieced and sewn entirely by hand, with remarkable care and precision. The canton is constructed of two lengths of blue fabric, that have been joined with treadle stitching. This was joined to the striped field by hand. The stars are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with treadle stitching. There is a treadle-sewn, cotton binding along the hoist, with five, hand-sewn grommets. It is extremely unusual to encounter this combination of sewing methods. Soon after the sewing machine was mass-marketed, in the mid-1850’s, flag-makers both public and private made good use of treadle machines, to join stripes, when constructing American flags. During the Civil War (1861-65), most stripes were treadle-sewn. Stars were another matter. Until the advent of electric machines...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Colorado State Flag, Made of Silk, circa 1911-1920
Located in York County, PA
COLORADO STATE FLAG OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, MADE OF SILK, CIRCA 1911-1920’s, EXTRAORDINARILY RARE IN THIS PERIOD AND THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED Early state flags are few and far between. While I am asked for them constantly, most states did not actually have official flags until the 20th century. On May 6th, 1911, Colorado became among the last to adopt a design. The project of doing so was spearheaded by the Denver Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The bill was introduced by Senator W.H. Sharply and adopted by the Eighteenth General Assembly. The artwork was the product of A.C. [Andrew Carlisle] Carson, President of the Ohio Society of Colorado. The meanings behind the elements in the design are as follows: The large letter "C" stands for Colorado and simultaneously for the Centennial State (Colorado entered the Union in 1876, the year in which our nation celebrated its 100th anniversary of independence), as well as the Columbine State (reflecting the state flower). The red color is included due to the fact that the word Colorado translates to scarlet or red in Spanish. The circle represents the sun, while the gold color symbolizes all-the-year sunshine, Colorado’s status as the greatest gold state, and one Columbine color. It was also included so that the Colorado state flag would have one more color than the U.S. flag. The color white reflects Colorado’s status as the greatest silver state, its eternal mountain snow, and one Columbine color. Lastly, the shade of Yale blue symbolizes all-the-year blue sky and one Columbine Color. Members of the D.A.R. were proud to note that this was also their color. Made sometime between the initial year of the adoption of this design and the 1920’s, this particular flag is the earliest Colorado example that I have ever encountered. The blue and white bars, red “C,” and golden circle are a’’ made of silk taffeta. This was a costly fabric, reserved for the best material a flag-maker produced. The flag is constructed in the manner of a battle flag, to be carried on foot. Squarish in its overall profile, silk was the fabric of choice for flags employed in this function, due to the fact that it was light weight, and thus practical for hand-carrying, while simultaneously formal in appearance, appropriate for the sort of ceremonial use that military presentation often demands. The style of the hoist is also typical for field or parade use. Here the fabric was rolled over to form an open sleeve, through which a wooden staff could be inserted. The sleeve is lined on the interior with black cotton. Leather tabs, at the top and bottom, fit over metal posts on the staff, designed to accept them, to fix the flag in its proper position. The bars were pieced and joined with lineal machine stitching. The hoist and fly ends were finished and hemmed by the same method. The devices are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with a machine buttonhole / blanket stitch. Though machines that produced buttonholes were, remarkably, available alongside the earliest standard machines, in the 1850’s and 60’s, the use of this sort of stitch in a running format, for appliqué work, remained highly unusual, even as late as the first half of the twentieth century, probably because it used a ton of thread when compared to the zigzag or satin stitch. It could be expected to appear more often in the hands of a maker of very fine flags, that employed embroidery machines and commissioned custom, fancy work of all sorts. Though unsigned—in no way uncommon in early examples, which were seldom signed—that is precisely the sort of firm that produced the Colorado flag...
Category

Early 20th Century American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

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

Late 19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

Elaborate Sailor Souvenir of Washington Crossing the Delaware, circa 1885-1912
Located in York County, PA
Elaborate sailor’s souvenir embroidery from the orient with a beautiful hand-painted image of Washington crossing the Delaware, surrounded by a large eagle, federal shield, crossed flags, a cannon, cannonballs, and anchor, circa 1885-1910: Between roughly 1880 and 1915, American sailors visiting the orient could obtain beautiful needlework embroideries on shore, with patriotic American themes. These extraordinary works of art were acquired as mementos of a long voyage, often with the hope that they might be presented as gifts for loved ones and friends. Using silk floss, elaborately embellished with both silver and gold metallic bullion thread...
Category

Late 19th Century Asian Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

34 Star Flag with Upside down Hand Sewn Stars, Kansas Statehood, circa 1861-1863
Located in York County, PA
34 Upside-down, Hand-sewn Stars In A Notched Configuration, On An Antique American Flag Of The Civil War Period, With A Beautiful And Highly Unusual Jacquard Weave Binding, And In A Tiny Scale Among Its Counterparts, Reflects The Addition Of Kansas As The 34th State, 1861-1863 34 star American national flag with a number of interesting and desirable features. Chief among these is the scale of the flag among counterparts of the period. At just three by four feet, its size is absolutely tiny among those with pieced-and-sewn construction. During the 19th century, sewn flags (as opposed to those that were printed on cloth) were typically eight feet long and larger. This is because they were important in their function as signals, meaning that they needed to be seen and recognized from great distance. A flag that was six feet in length was considered small and production of flags smaller than this was extremely limited. Even infantry battle flags, carried on foot, were approximately six by six and-one-half feet, about the size of an average quilt of the same period. It wasn't until the 1890’s that manufacturers began to produce smaller sewn flags in great quantity. The stars of the flag are arranged in justified lineal rows, the first of which contains one fewer star. This results in what I call a “notched” design, leaving one space open for the addition of another star. The blank space leaves little doubt that the maker of the flag assumed that another Western Territory would soon acquire statehood, or that West Virginia might soon break free from Virginia, which occurred in June of 1863. Note how the stars are oriented so that they are upside-down on their vertical axis, with two points up instead of one. No one knows if this positioning bore any particular meaning. Both modern notions of the correct orientation of a star, and the present official design of the American flag, dictate that the stars are supposed to have one point up. Since there was no official design for the flag until 1912, however, it may simply be that the maker of the flag did not consider any particular position to be right-side-up or upside-down. In the mid-19th century, it was not uncommon to see stars pointing any which way, varied throughout whatever arrangement was chosen. Whatever the case may be, the feature present on this particular flag is unusual to the eye and notable in terms of its presentation. Made of cotton, the stars are hand-sewn and double-appliquéd (applied to both sides). The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting. Because blue wool bunting generally came in a width of 18", the canton was pieced from two lengths of fabric, joined by hand-stitching. The canton is joined to the striped field by hand-stitching. The stripes are pieced and hemmed by treadle stitching. Made of heavy, polished, jacquard weave linen, the binding of the flag is both exceptional from a textile connoisseur’s perspective and highly unusual. This is joined to the flag by treadle stitching. There are two brass grommets, one each at the top and bottom of the hoist, which are likewise especially unusual, in that they are both heavier than normal and intentionally hammered flat. I have seen this on only one other occasion in a Civil War flag...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

Hand-Sewn 13 Star Cornflower Blue 32 Foot Commission Pennant circa 1845-1865
Located in York County, PA
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...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

48 Crocheted Stars on Graphic, Three-Dimensional Flag Made of Silk, ca 1917-1918
Located in York County, PA
48 crocheted stars on a very graphic, three-dimensional flag made from silk ribbon and crocheted rings, WWI Era (U.S. involvement 1917-18) Homemade, ha...
Category

Early 20th Century Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

Teddy Roosevelt and His Great White Fleet American Flag, circa 1907-1909
Located in York County, PA
Rare & Beautiful American Parade Flag With Images Of Teddy Roosevelt And His Great White Fleet, 1907-1909, Ex-richard Pierce Collection: 46 star parade ...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

36 Star Antique American Flag, Cornflower blue Canton, circa 1864-1867, Nevada
Located in York County, PA
Antique American Flag With 36 Stars On A Cornflower Blue Canton, Civil War Era, 1864-1867, Reflects The Addition Of Nevada As The 36th State; A Great Folk Exaple With Haphazard Rows Of Starfish-like Stars: 36 star American national flag of the Civil War era with outstanding collector traits. Haphazard rows of fat, starfish-shaped stars fill most of the confines of a brilliant, cornflower blue canton. Note the crude piecing of the thirteen, red and white stripes, joined in an ill-planned manner that results in great variation in width, as well as general irregularity. The 4th red stripe actually falls slightly below the canton, and the height of each does not line up with the corresponding stripe on the reverse. This can clearly be seen at the fly end, which is is turned back and bound to repair obvious extended use in an outdoor environment. Clearly the maker lacked experience in seam work. Lining up the necessary components, so that they could be viewed on both sides, presented a challenge they may have not previously faced. This is also evident in the sewing of the stars, which do not line up on the obverse and reverse sides, as they typically would in a flag sewn by an experienced flag-maker. That said, this is just this kind of homemade charm that fuels interest in early American flags...
Category

1860s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Indiana State Flag, with Gold Fringe circa 1930-1955
Located in York County, PA
Indiana State Flag With Square-like Proportions, An Offset Device, And Gold Fringe, Circa 1930-1955: Despite the fact that most of the United States joined the Union during the 18...
Category

20th Century American Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Antique American Flag, 32 Stars, Minnesota Statehood, circa 1858-59
Located in York County, PA
32 STARS IN A VERY UNUSUAL NOTCHED VERSION OF THE “GREAT STAR” PATTERN, WITH TWO STARS ABSENT AT THE EXTREME POINTS OF EACH ARM, MADE IN THE PERIOD WHEN MINNESOTA JOINED THE UNION AS...
Category

1850s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Ironstone Suffragette Plate w/ Votes for Women Text, Made for Alva Belmont, 1914
Located in York County, PA
IRONSTONE PLATE WITH "VOTES FOR WOMEN" TEXT, MADE JOHN MADDOCK & SONS FOR SUFFRAGIST ALVA BELMONT FOR MARBLE HOUSE, HER FAMOUS ESTATE IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, CIRCA 1914: Porcelain objects related to the Suffrage movement are extremely scarce. The most celebrated of all American suffrage dinnerware consists of a service of white ironstone, commissioned by Alva Belmont,* prominent Newport, Rhode Island, socialite. Belmont was the founder of a pro-suffrage group called the Political Equality Association. According to Suffrage memorabilia expert Ken Folley, "There are at least eight different examples known in this design, including a cup and saucer, a lunch or dinner plate, a salad or bread plate, a berry bowl, a soup bowl, a celery dish...
Category

1910s English Vintage Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Porcelain

34 Star American flag, Updated to 39 Stars, with Stars in a Great Star Pattern
Located in York County, PA
34 STARS IN A WHIMSICAL RENDITION OF THE GREAT STAR PATTERN, ON A CIVIL WAR PERIOD FLAG WITH A CORNFLOWER BLUE CANTON, UPDATED TO 39 STARS IN 1876 34 star American national flag with additional stars added and one of the most stunning graphic designs I have ever seen in early flag-making. The original pattern was comprised of a circle of 5 large stars, and triangular arms made of smaller stars. These are noticeable pointy and bent like the arms of a starfish. Made of cotton, the stars are hand-sewn and double-appliquéd to a fantastic, cornflower blue canton, a color common to Civil War uniforms...
Category

1870s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

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 Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wool

1806 Printed Linen Kerchief Glorifying George Washington, Germantown, Penn
Located in York County, PA
EXTRAORDINARILY EARLY (1806) PRINTED LINEN KERCHIEF GLORIFYING GEORGE WASHINGTON, PRINT WORKS, GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA Printed in blue ink on coarse, white linen, this patriotic kerchief shows a standing portrait of George Washington, above which is a swag valance and the words “The Effect of Principle, Behold the Man”. The portrait is based on a mezzotint after Gilbert Stuart’s very famous painting of Washington in his later years, most often referred to as the Landsdowne portrait. Stuart painted three versions of it in oil on canvas, one of which was completed in 1796 for a wealthy merchant by the name of William Constable, who commissioned the work for Alexander Hamilton. The kerchief is interesting because it is both American-made and documented. This is exceptionally unusual for any printed textile of the 19th century or prior and the earlier the time period the more unlikely an object is to be identified. This kerchief and a companion piece entitled “The Love of Truth Mark the Boy” (also glorifying Washington, through the fabled story of the cherry tree), were made circa 1806 by Germantown Print Works in Germantown, Pennsylvania. To the left of Washington's image is a portion of his infamous farewell address to his troops at the end of the Revolutionary War. To the right is a short excerpt from his eulogy. Below these are three images. In the center is a square-rigged tall ship with “Commercial Union” above it, flanked by the American eagle on the left and the British lion on the right. It is reasonable to assume that the textile may have been produced in demonstration of the maker's desire, and/or that of others, to advance trade with England. Commercial printers were very influential in early America, as they possessed the means by which to disseminate information. This kerchief and its companion piece are documented in Threads of History, Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 - the Present, by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (1979, Smithsonian Press), p. 63, items 38 & 39.* The two pieces pictured are in the collection of Cornell University, but the Collins text also cites an uncut pair to be present in the collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH. The name "Germantown Print Works" is printed on the Western Reserve examples. Another example of the textile in question is documented in "Running for President, The Candidates and Their Images, 1789-1896" by Schlesinger, Israel, and Frendt, (1994, Simon & Schuster), p. 15. I have seen three different color variations of this textile, including sepia, mulberry red, and blue. This particular example has a hand-sewn binding along the top, lower, and left edges. Mounting: The textile 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 gilded molding has a rippled profile and dates to the period between 1825 and 1850.The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color. The glazing is U.V. protective plexiglass. Feel free to contact us for more details. Condition: There is an all-over golden oxidation of the white fabric and there is very minor staining. There are tiny tack holes in each corner and there are minor nicks around the perimeter. * Collins relates that Germantown Printworks was operated by the Hewsons. In doing so he cites one of Worthington Chauncey Ford's books on George Washington, but it isn't clear which one (there are many) and no page numbers are given. John Hewson was an Englishman who came to America and opened his printing business on the advice of Benjamin Franklin. He was one of the first “calico printers” and is the earliest documented to have advertised printed kerchiefs. His ads for bandanas appear as early as June 20th, 1774. He is suspected of having produced the very first American kerchief that pictured an American president, which is documented in Collins as item 1 on page 48. Linda Eaton, curator at Winterthur, in 2012, is currently doing in depth research on the three printers of fabrics that were operating in Germantown in early America. She discovered that the owner and/or operator of Germantown Print Works, while not currently known, was not John Hewson. This information is not yet published. She also noted that Winterthur possessed examples of the two George Washington textiles...
Category

Early 1800s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Colorful Civil War Recruitment Broadside for the "Manhattan Rifles"
Located in York County, PA
MASSIVE & COLORFUL CIVIL WAR RECRUITMENT BROADSIDE FOR THE "MANHATTAN RIFLES,” WHICH MUSTERED INTO 43RD AND THE 57TH NEW YORK INFANTRY DIVISIONS ...
Category

1860s American Antique Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Paper

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