| 27 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG, MADE TO COMMEMORATE THE 1845 ADDITION OF FLORIDA AS THE 27th STATE, MOST LIKELY FOR DISPLAY AND DISTRIBUTION AT THE 1/5TH SCALE MODEL OF CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS (a.k.a., FORT MARION), THAT HOUSED FLORIDA'S EXHIBITS AT THE 1893 CHICAGO WORLD’S FAIR / WORLD’S COLUMBIAN EXPO |
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| Web ID: | 27j-805 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | Approx. 12.5" x 9.5" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 3" x 4" on a 7" staff |
| Description: | |
| 27 star American parade flag, printed on cotton and affixed to its original wooden staff. The stars are arranged in rows of 4-5-4-5-4-5. Made sometime between approximately 1876 and 1895, this is a known variety, though extremely rare, represented by fewer than 10 surviving examples. The purpose of its manufacture would have likely been to commemorate the addition of Florida as the 27th state, probably for use at a World’s Fair. The first of these held in America was the Centennial International Exhibition, that served as the nucleus of celebrations held to honor the nation’s 100-year anniversary of independence. Though Florida had but a small presence at the Centennial Expo, it did have a pavilion in the Government Building. An image of the sign above its designated area, with a large, single star, is visible in an image in the collection of the Smithsonian. It had commissioner, an alternate commissioner, and a committee of five representatives. At least two merchants from the state exhibited, including George Miller of Jacksonville, who offered Palmetto hats and ‘Florida curiosities,’ and Fred Ansley of St. Augustine, who sold jewelry made from ‘native Florida materials.’ The flag is more likely to have been of slightly later manufacture, however, so display or distribution in 1876 is unlikely to have been origin of this 27 star example. A far more likely source is the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, a.k.a., the Chicago World’s Fair, where Florida seems to have made up for its weak presence in Philadelphia. The 9,394 sq. ft. ‘Florida House’ at this mammoth event was actually not a house at all. Instead it was a one-fifth scale model of St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos (a.k.a., Fort Marion), the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. The original structure was built in 1672 by the Spanish Empire. This miniature version of it was designed by architect Mead Nalter of Chicago. Frame-built and plaster-covered, decorated with coquina shells, it showcased many things, including native birds, fruits, woods, and turpentine production. Given the historic and military function of Castillo de San Marcos, which operated for a continuous 251 years, having served as active, United States Army base from 1819-1933, the distribution or sale of souvenir-sized American flags, especially something that glorified Florida statehood, would have been a logical thing to include in the attraction. Part of what helps date this flag is an unusual feature regarding its construction. The flag bears an uncommon trait among antique American parade flags, in that the cotton fabric was first printed with white pigment before the red and blue were applied. Although this rare feature, present in perhaps 1% of 19th century parade flags, can be encountered earlier, it is most often seen in flags of the 1889-1908 era. One notable 38 star variety is known with this trait. Produced both with and without the white pigment, the examples where it is present allow the rare opportunity of being accurately dated to a specific year, due to overprinted merchant advertising that commemorates the 1889 centennial of George Washington’s presidential inauguration. Other notable styles are known with 42, 44, and 45 stars. Although Florida celebrated its 50-year anniversary of statehood in 1895, there do not seem to have been major celebrations of this anniversary that may have led to the production of flags. A World’s Fair event of did occur nearby in that specific year, however, which is worth mention. The 1895 Cotton States & International Exposition, held in Atlanta from September to December, focused on the cotton industry and the fostering of trade among southern states. This was a follow-up to a series of similar fairs, namely the 1881 International Cotton Exposition, also held in Atlanta, to showcase the rebirth of the city following Sherman’s destruction of it during the Civil War, and the much larger 1883-1884 World's Industrial & Cotton Centennial Exposition, held for 6 months in New Orleans. Although the nation was changing. Reconstruction had ended, and African Americans were included in at least the latter two events (1884 and 1895), where there were black attendees, black speakers, etc., these locations, particularly Atlanta, seem less likely to have been places where lots of American flags would be sold or distributed, especially when compared with the 1893 Chicago fair, that celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s landing. It is of particular interest to note that American national flags with 27 stars, that were actually made at the time when Florida gained statehood, are among the rarest of all 19th century examples of the Stars & Stripes. Very few period examples exist and most major collections of early flags that have been assembled over the years have not included one. Part of the reason why they are so rare is that the star count was official for only one year. Florida became the 27th state on March 3rd, 1845. After the Third Flag Act (1818), stars were officially added to the national flag on the 4th of July following a state's addition. This meant that the 27th star would theoretically have been added on July 4th, 1845. Because the makers of flags, both private and public, seem to have cared little for the acts of Congress, however, or were perhaps completely ignorant of the pertinent legislation, the 27th star would have been added by most makers at the time of the addition of the state. Sometimes it would have even occurred beforehand, in hopeful anticipation. The practice of adding stars in an anticipatory fashion became quite popular in the mid-late 19th century, accurately capturing the spirit of a nation in eager pursuit of Manifest Destiny. In the 1840's, nowhere is this more profoundly illustrated than in a rare type of printed cotton flag, produced for the 1844 political campaign of James Polk, which bears an expected count of 26 white stars, arranged in a double-wreath style medallion within the blue canton, plus a 27th blue star just outside it, in the first white stripe, to promote Polk's support of the addition of Texas. At the time of their manufacture, it was apparently unknown that Florida would arrive first. Texas entered the Union as the 28th state on December 29th, 1845, approximately 9.5 months after the addition of Florida. While the 28th star was not officially added until July 4th, 1846, most flag-makers would have once again added it on or before Texas' addition. For this reason, production of 27 star flags had a realistic window of approximately just 9-10 months, which meant that it would be one of the shortest lasting star counts in American history. Another reason why 27 star flags are so scarce is that they were produced at a time before the Stars & Stripes was in widespread use. Flags made prior to the Civil War (1861-1865) are extremely scarce, comprising less than one percent of 19th century flags that have survived into the 21st century. Prior to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in 1861, the Stars & Stripes was simply not used for most of the same purposes we employ it in today. Private individuals did not typically display the American national flag. There was limited use in political campaigning from 1840 onward, but even the military did not use the national flag in a manner one might expect. Most people are surprised to learn that the infantry wasn't authorized to carry the Stars & Stripes until well into the 19th century. The foremost purpose before the Civil War (1861-65) was to identify ships on the open seas. While the flag was used to mark garrisons and government buildings, the flags of ground forces were limited to the those of their own regiment and a perhaps a federal standard (a blue or buff yellow flag bearing the arms of the United States). Artillery units were the first to be afforded the privilege in 1834. Infantry followed in 1841, but cavalry not until 1862. The first actual war in which the Stars & Stripes was officially carried was thus the Mexican War (1846-48), and though the 27 star flag was official at the war’s opening, in 25 years of aggressive buying and research, I have encountered almost no American national flags produced in an obvious military style that are of the Mexican War period—just a couple of examples. For all of the above reasons, 27 star flags of any sort, dating to the 19th century, whether of the 27 star period or made after the fact, for some commemorative purpose, are especially interesting things in flag collecting. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained our own textile conservation department, led by a master’s degree level graduate from one of the nation’s top programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples. The gilded American molding dates to the period between 1830 and the 1850’s. The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass. Feel free to contact us for further details. Condition: There is minor staining, accompanied by a modest area in the canton and along the white portion of the hoist, adjacent to it, and some modest to moderate staining in the 2nd white stripe. There is minor fraying with associate loss along top edge of the canton and a tiny nick at the fly end of the 1st white stripe. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything |
| Flag Type: | Parade flag |
| Star Count: | 27 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1890 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1895 |
| State/Affiliation: | Florida |
| War Association: | |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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