Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
Sold Flags



  38 STARS, COLORADO STATEHOOD, 1876-1889

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 20.25" x 27"
Flag Size (H x L): 11.5" x 18"
Description....:
38 star American national parade flag, printed on coarse, glazed cotton. The stars are arranged in justified rows of 6-6-7-7-6-6. Colorado became the 38th state on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation’s 100-year anniversary of independence. 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 was the official star count for the American flag in 1876. Flag-making was a competitive venture, however, and few flag-makers would have been continuing to produce 37 star flags when their competitors were making 38’s. It is for this reason that 38 and 13 stars (to represent the original 13 colonies) are more often seen at the Centennial International Exposition, the six-month long World’s Fair held in Philadelphia in honor of the event. Some flag-makers would have been adding a star for the 38th state even before it entered the Union, in the early part of 1876 or even prior. In fact, many makers of parade flags were actually producing 39 star flags, in hopeful anticipation of the addition of two more Western Territories instead of one. But the 39th state would not join the Union for another 13 years, when the Dakota Territory entered as two states on the same day. The 38 star flag became official on July 4th, 1877 and was generally used until the addition of the Dakotas in 1889.

President Ulysses S. Grant was in office when the first 38 star flags would have appeared. The list of presidents serving during the period when the 38 star flag was actually official include Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison.

Mounting: The solid walnut molding, with ebonized trim, retains its original gilded liner with silhouetted decoration and dates to the period between 1870 and the 1880's. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, that has been 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. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass.

Condition: There is fabric loss in the upper, hoist end corner, where the flag was affixed to its original wooden staff. Period fabric was placed behind the flag in this area for masking purposes. There are tiny holes along the hoist from the tacks that held the flag in place. There are two tiny holes toward the fly end of the 2nd white stripe and there is minor fraying along the fly end. There is very minor fading of the red-orange stripes. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 38
Earliest Date of Origin: 11.5" x 18"
Latest Date of Origin: 20.25" x 27"
State/Affiliation: Colorado
War Association: 1866-1890 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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