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  37 STARS, A LARGE PARADE FLAG WITH SILK FRINGE, A HAND-SEWN HOIST, WHIP-STITCHED GROMMETS AND SILK TASSELS, NEBRASKA STATEHOOD, 1867-1876, THE ERA OF AMERICAN RECONSTRUCTION

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): n/a
Flag Size (H x L): 31" x 48"
Description....:
37 STARS, A LARGE PARADE FLAG WITH SILK FRINGE, A HAND-SEWN HOIST, WHIP-STITCHED GROMMETS AND SILK TASSELS, NEBRASKA STATEHOOD, 1867-1876, THE ERA OF AMERICAN RECONSTRUCTION:

37 star American parade flag, printed on silk, with a fine, gold, silk fringe. Note how the stars of this flag are configured in rows of 6-6-6-7-6-6. These would be what I call "dancing" or "tumbling" stars, but for one star in the fourth row. Dancing or tumbling stars alternate point-up, point-down consecutively throughout the field. All of the stars on this flag conform to that definition, save for the second-to-the-last one in the row of 7, which is effectively point-up, like the star to its left, yet tilts just slightly toward the 11:00 o'clock position. One might expect that this odd star to have been added to a previous design of 36 stars, the printer having simply adjusted the 4th row to accommodate the new state, but since I have never seen the design on a 36 star flag, it was more likely a brand new pattern.

While this layout stars is actually fairly typical on 37 star parade flags, I have never seen original silk fringe on any other parade flag of such a large size. Fringes are seldom seen on parade flags of any period, but on rare occasion they appear on silk, 37 and 38 star varieties. Original fringe on such a large printed flag, however, is unique in my experience.

Another nice trait in the flag's construction is the presence of a finely hand-sewn cotton sleeve along the hoist. The sleeve has three tiny whip-stitched grommets, through which silk ties were threaded so that the flag could be affixed to a wooden staff.

The 37th state, Nebraska, joined the Union on March 1st, 1867. The 37 star flag was official from that year until 1877, although it generally fell from use in 1875 or 1876 with the impending addition of more states. The 37 star-count is quite scarce in comparison to the flags that immediately preceded and followed it. This is due primarily to the lack of major patriotic events during the period they were used, which followed the Civil War, yet preceded the 1876 centennial, and encompassed most of Southern Reconstruction. While the 37 star flag was still official in 1876, it was well known that at least one more state would be joining the Union that year. This caused flag makers to cease production in favor of 38 and 39 star flags, which were made as early as 1875 or even prior. For this reason, 37 star flags were seldom produced for the Centennial International Exposition, where 38 and 13 star counts (commemorating American independence) were preferred.

Mounting: The flag has not yet been mounted.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 37
Earliest Date of Origin: 1867
Latest Date of Origin: 1876
State/Affiliation: Nebraska
War Association: 1866-1890 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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