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  45 STARS, A SMALL, HOMEMADE EXAMPLE WITH GREAT FOLK QUALITIES, 1896-1907

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 48" x 60.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 36" x 49.25"
Description....:
45 STARS, A SMALL, HOMEMADE EXAMPLE WITH GREAT FOLK QUALITIES, 1896-1907:

45 star American national flag in an unusually small size with some nice folk qualities. These include the variation in the size and shape of the stars and their orientation on the denim blue canton. This is a homemade flag, sewn of cotton bunting, with an open cotton sleeve along the hoist. Note how the maker purposely tilted the top point of each star to the 1:00 position. This allowed the next arm to point directly to the right, in the 3:00 position, which allowed the stars to be placed closer together, overlapping one-another's circumference. This was probably necessary since the stars were cut a bit too big for the allotted space. Even better, however, is the human error factor that allowed some of the arms to be much longer and skinnier than others, and some to be fatter, while some tips are pointy and others are rounded. In addition, note how some stars tilt a bit too far, so that they are almost upside-down. Also note how many of the red stripes are much narrower than the red. These sort of features set many homemade flags apart from those that were produced in cottage industry settings, adding strong elements of folk art to the design of early Stars & Stripes.

By the 45 star period, 1896-1908, almost all flags were factory-produced. This is yet another reason why homemade flags are desired by collectors. Equally attractive is the small size of the flag. This is because it's length is just a hair over four feet, during a period when most all sewn flag with 45 stars were at least eight feet or larger. Some are occasionally seen in five and six foot lengths, but four feet is very rare and three foot flags don't exist for all practical purposes. You could purchase a private yachting ensign during this era with 13 stars that was two by three feet or two-and-a-half by four and they were quite common, but flags with the full compliment of stars were simply not produced in these sizes with any regularity.

Utah became the 45th state in 1896. It had been attempting to gain statehood for many years, but remained a territory, primarily due to the fact that the Mormon Church and Utah authorities continued to be openly tolerant of polygamy. In 1890, Mormon Church President Wilford Woodruff published a manifesto that denounced the contract of "any marriages forbidden by the law of the land". This gave way to Utah's 1896 acceptance. The 45 star flag was generally used from that year until 1907, when Oklahoma joined the Union. Due to the Spanish-American War (1898) and Teddy Roosevelt's famous world tour of the "White Fleet" (launched in 1907), this was an extremely patriotic period.

Construction: The flag is sewn entirely of cotton, pieced with a treadle machine. The stars are double-appliqued (sewn to both sides of the canton).

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% silk organza for support on every seam. It was then hand-sewn to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color. The cotton was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat treated for the same purpose. The flag was ten placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is u.v. protective.

Condition: There is minor foxing and staining throughout, but the overall condition is excellent for the period.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 45
Earliest Date of Origin: 1896
Latest Date of Origin: 1907
State/Affiliation: Utah
War Association: 1898 Spanish American War
Price: SOLD
 

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