| EXTREMELY EARLY KERCHIEF WITH A CHART OF 152 INTERNATIONAL MARITME FLAGS, PRINTED ON CLOTH, circa 1837-1845, WITH A 26 STAR AMERICAN FLAG AT THE TOP LEFT |
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| Web ID: | ker-252 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 38" x 43" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 26.75" x 31.5" |
| Description: | |
| Early international flag chart for nautical use, printed on cotton in the format of a kerchief. English-made for the international market, probably in Scotland, the design features “The Standard of America” in the upper, left-hand corner. The illustration is of a 26 star American national flag, the stars of which are arranged in what is known as the “Great Star” or “Great Luminary” pattern, a star made out of stars. This is followed by 7 other flags in anchor positions around the border, including the standard of England in the top center, followed (clockwise) by France, Belgium, Spain, Russia, Portugal, and Holland. Four more flags of the U.S. Navy appear within the 12 x 12 grid that encompasses the center of the flag. Located at the beginning in the 3rd row, these are as follows: an “American Jack” with 24 stars, flown from the stern of a Navy ship when it was at port or anchor, and three flags of rank, including those of the 1st Commodore (26 stars in a Great Star pattern on a triangular, red field), 2nd Commodore (ditto, but on a triangular, blue field), and 3rd Commodore (triangular and all-white). The detailed images and text, printed in black or sepia, were produced with a copper plate. Hand-coloring was accomplished largely with stencils. Human error and bleeding of the pigments can result in what appears to be a variety of star counts in the “Great Star” patterns, but the actual number, per the black or sepia images, before hand-coloring, includes 26 stars. Michigan joined the Union as the 26th state on January 26th, 1837. 26 became the official star count on July 4th, 1837 and remained so until July 3rd, 1845. The earliest known American flags with printed construction, called parade flags or “hand-wavers”, display either the 26 or 13 star count, with the latter made during the same general time frame, with patriotic respect for the original 13 colonies. 26 is a rare count on surviving early American flags and very few with this number are known to exist. Though the jack featured here bears 24 stars instead of 26, this is no-doubt reflective of the fact that the 24 star flag had long been in recent use. Missouri became the 24th state on August 10th, 1821, the star count became official on July 4th, 1822, and remained so until Arkansas became the 25th state, in 1836. This would mark the longest such period during the 19th century. Even so, it is of interest to note that 24 star flags are even more rare than those with 26 stars. Only a tiny number exist, certainly fewer than 10. The full matrix includes 8 flags on the border and 144 in the grid, for a total of 152. Those in the 12 x 12 matrix are listed as follows: Row 1: [British] Transport Service British Merchant [British] Custom House [British] Union Jack [British] Excise [British] Blue Ensign [British] Vice Admiral [British] St. George's Jack [British] Royal Yacht Club [British] White Ensign [British] Admirality [British] Red Ensign Row 2: [British] Victualling Service (food stores) [British] Trinity House [British] Hanover [British/Irish] Ld. Lieut. of Ireland [British] City of London [British/Irish] Ireland [British/Scottish] City of Edinburgh British Ordinance [British/Irish] City of Dublin [British] Pacret [British] East India Company British Navy Board Row 3: American Jack [American] 1st Commodore [American] 2nd Commodore [American] 3rd Commodore [British] Merchant of Hanover Signl. for Pilot French [France] Dunkirk [France] Marseilles [France] Jersey [France] Normandy [France] Calais French Admiral Row 4: [Netherlands] Amsterdam [Netherlands] Texel [Netherlands] Zealand Merchant of Holland [Netherlands] Flanders Jack [Netherlands] Ter Veer Jack [British/Greek] Ioanian Isles [Spain] St. [Santo] Domingo [Venezuela] Cumana Arabia [Venezuela] Caracca Netherlands Row 5: [Netherlands] Brabant Turkish Empire [Turkish Empire] Grand Vizier [Turkish Empire] Captain Pacha Turkish Man of War [Turkish Empire] Ronigsburgh [Italy] Genoa [British/India] Mogul [Turkish Empire] Smyrna [Spain] Sangrian [Tunisia] Tunis [Tunisia] Tunis [2nd generic attribution] Row 6: [Netherlands] Rotterdam [British/India] Bengal China Cochin China China [2nd generic attribution] [German Confederation] Hamburgh State Flag [Prussia] Brandenburgh [Birma] Birman [British/India] Mahratta Moors Japan [Tunisia] Tripoli Row 7: Algiers Algerine Rover Morrocco Morrocco [2nd generic attribution] Salee Courland Kingdom of Sardinia Persia Mercht. of Persia Shah of Persia Prince of Persia [Spain] Barcelona Row 8: Bremen Malta Greek Mercht. Greek Man of War Greek Oldenburgh Lunenburg Cumana Chili [Spain] St. [Santo] Domingo [2nd generic attribution] Sig. for Pilot Spain Bincay Row 9: Venice Malta [2nd generic attribution] Elbing Messina Naples Mercht. of Prussia Sig. for Pilt. [Pilot] Prussia Peru Columbia Poyais Venezuela Mercht. of Spain Row 10: Majorca Papal Standard Rome Roman Mercht. Mercht. of Austria Man of War Austria Sigl. for Pilot Austria High Admiral Denmark Buenos Ayres Mexico Valparaiso Spanish Galleon Row 11: Oporto Ragusa Empire of Brazil Dantzic Kingdom of Poland Standard of Austria Danish Standard Mercht. of Sweeden Norway Coaster Sweeden and Norway Man of War Spain Row 12: Man of War Portugal Leghorn Lubec Russian American Com. Russian Jack Man of War Russia Admiralty of Russia 1st Admiral Russia 2nd Admiral Russia 3rd Admiral Russia Rovers Batavia King of Spain Mounting: The flag 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% hemp fabric, ivory in color. The 2-part frame consists of a solid wooden molding with a dark, woodgrain finish, a bevel & scoop profile, and reddish highlights, to which a flat profile molding with a gold, distressed surface, was added as a liner. Condition: There is minor to modest soiling in limited areas and there is minor to modest fading throughout. Exceptional given the age and rarity of the textile. |
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| Collector Level: | Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything |
| Flag Type: | |
| Star Count: | 26 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1837 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1845 |
| State/Affiliation: | Michigan |
| War Association: | 1777-1860 Pre-Civil War |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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