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  38 STAR AMERICAN FLAG RIBBON, COLORADO STATEHOOD, 1876-1889

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 3.5" x 5.75"
Flag Size (H x L): 1.5" x 3"
Description....:
38 STAR AMERICAN FLAG RIBBON, COLORADO STATEHOOD, 1876-1889:

38 star, American national flag ribbon, printed on silk. Note how the stars, which are arranged in justified rows of 6-6-7-6-7-6, vary in their vertical position from one row to the next. Instead of all stars having one point upward, as is the case on modern flags, the stars alternate in each row, with an arm facing in either the 1:00 or 11:00 position. Also note the interesting proportions of the flag, which are long and narrow. There was no official star pattern for the Stars & Stripes until 1912 and likewise, there were no official proportions.

These scarce flags were used on military medals, political and fraternal items in the 1876-1890 period. They were also sometimes simply worn on a lapel with a stick pin.

The 38th state, Colorado, received its statehood on August 1st, 1876. This was the year of our nation's 100-year anniversary of independence. Although 37 was the official star count for the American flag in 1876, flag-making was a competitive venture, and no one wanted to be making 37 star flags when others were making 38's. It is for this reason that 38 and 13 stars (to represent the original 13 colonies) are the two star counts most often seen at the Centennial International Exposition, the six-month long, World's Fair, held in Philadelphia in honor of the event. The 38 star flag became official in 1877 and was generally used until the addition of the Dakotas in 1889.

Mounting: The solid oak frame has an acid-washed surface and dates to the period between 1890 and 1920. The ribbon has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton rag mat. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is U.V. protective.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 38
Earliest Date of Origin: 1876
Latest Date of Origin: 1889
State/Affiliation: Colorado
War Association: 1866-1890 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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