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  13 Star American Flag -- Betsy Ross Configuration -- Hand-Sewn Stars & Stripes

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): n/a
Flag Size (H x L): 42.5" x 53.5"
Description....:
13 star American national flag with Betsy Ross-style wreath star configuration, most likely made for use by school children on Independence day. The flag has several unusual characteristics that make it interesting from a folk art standpoint. One of these is the starfish-like shape of the stars and the irregularity of their positioning. They are large, close together, and some even touch points. Another characteristic is the orientation of the canton. Noticeably taller that it is wide, it bears a dusty blue color with a faded yet pleasing patina. Also interesting are the stripes, which vary in size. The flag's small size is highly desired. It is made entirely of muslin cotton and both the stripes and stars are hand-sewn. The canton is attached with a machine-stitch, as is the narrow hoist, and the fly end is hemmed by machine. It is a one-sided flag, and this trait is not uncommon for homemade designs of the period. Although made around the turn-of-the-century (1890-1910), this is one of the earliest "perfect circle" or "Betsy Ross" pattern flags that you will ever encounter. While we are taught in grammar school that this was what our first flag looked like, there is unfortunately no way to prove this claim. No colonial examples have survived with this pattern of stars. In fact, I have never seen a Betsy Ross pattern flag made prior to the 1890's. It was during this time that Betsy Ross' grand daughter (Rachel Albright) and great grand daughter (Sarah M. Wilson) operated a cottage industry in the west wing of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, making hand-sewn flags for tourists. They proudly claimed that this was what the first flag looked like, but no hard evidence exists to substantiate it. 13 star flags have been used throughout our Nation's history for a variety of purposes. The Navy used them from 1776 until 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson wrote an executive order that terminated this historic connection to our colonial past. They were made to commemorate Lafayette's visit in 1825-26, carried by soldiers during the Mexican and Civil Wars, and made to celebrate the Nation's Centennial of Independence in 1876, the Sesquicentennial in 1926, and other patriotic occasions. Mounting: The flag was stitched to 100% silk organza on every star and every stripe. Silk organza is a nearly weightless fabric that is entirely natural, very strong, and supports the early fabric of the flag so that stress on it is minimized when it hangs in the frame. Then flag was then hand-sewn to a 100% cotton background, black in color. The background fabric is pre-washed, but we washed it at least once to remove excess dye and have used an acid-free agent that further sets the dye. The flag was then placed over an archival barrier on a wooden strainer, and encased in an acrylic box frame with a u.v. protective front. Condition: the flag is in an excellent state of preservation. There is minor to moderate fading in the canton and some staining at the fly end in the stripe area.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1890
Latest Date of Origin: 1910
State/Affiliation: 13 Original Colonies
War Association:
Price: No
 

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