Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
Sold Flags



  35 STARS, 1863-65, CIVIL WAR PERIOD, WEST VIRGINIA STATEHOOD, MEDALLION CONFIGURATION WITH A LARGE, HALOED CENTER STAR

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 30" x 39"
Flag Size (H x L): 20" x 29"
Description....:
35 STARS, 1863-65, CIVIL WAR PERIOD, WEST VIRGINIA STATEHOOD, MEDALLION CONFIGURATION WITH A LARGE, HALOED CENTER STAR:br />
35 star American national parade flag, printed on coarse, glazed cotton and bearing a beautiful medallion configuration that has a huge, haloed center star. This is one of the boldest, wreath pattern, Civil War-era designs,and is in a rather large and highly desirable size among printed flags. In addition to these facts, there are far more parade flags known in the 34 star count, which was used during the opening two years of the war, than in the 35 star count, which became official in July of 1863. Although 35 remained the official star count until July 4th, 1865, following the war's end, most flag making, especially that which was not under military contract, would have included a 36th star upon the addition of Nevada on October 31st, 1864. This means that 35 star flags were realistically produced for less than a year and a half. Scarcity is thus one reason why 35 star parade flags are so interesting, and another is the fact that they are often larger and more visual, with relatively elaborate star configurations.br />
Although the name of the maker of this flag is unknown, the company is known to have produced at least six different star counts with haloed center stars. Examples exist with 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, and 42 stars.br />
Mounting: The flag has been stitched to 100% twill cotton, black in color. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is u.v. protective. The background fabric has been washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added o the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed, contemporary Italian molding.br />
Condition: There is minor foxing and staining, accompanied by very minor holes. There is also some fading in the stripes, but the color of these was probably never red. This is evidenced by the existence more parade flags than I can possibly remember that have orange stripes. The coloration is never partly red and partly orange, due, for example, to inconsistent fading. Rather the coloration is consistently either one or the other, in various tones, with various levels of fading where a flag received greater exposure.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 35
Earliest Date of Origin: 1863
Latest Date of Origin: 1865
State/Affiliation: West Virginia
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

Views: 2544