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  38 STARS, 1876-1889, SIGNED JOHN L. SALISBURY, NYACK [NY] 1886

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): if framed, would be approximately 66" x 101"
Flag Size (H x L): 56" x 91"
Description....:
38 STARS, 1876-1889, SIGNED "JOHN L. SALISBURY", NYACK [NY], 1886:

38 star American national flag with a bold signature of its former owner along the hoist. "John L. Salisbury, Nyack" appears near the bottom of the treadle-sewn, linen sleeve, which has two brass grommets. Near the top, "Salisbury Nyack" is repeated. Written in a dip pen, the ink was once black but has turned an attractive brown with age. Salisbury was likely the flag's first owner, based on the estimated age of the inscription. Also near the top of the sleeve is a stencil of the numeral "8", which would have been placed there by the maker and indicated the flag's eight-foot length.

The stars of the flag are hand-sewn and double-appliqued, which means that they were applied to both sides of the blue canton. The canton and stripes were sewn with a treadle machine. This combination of hand and machine stitching, hand or the stars and machine for the stripes, is exactly what one expects to see in most wool flags of the centennial era.

The 38th state, Colorado, received its statehood on August 1st, 1876. This was just 28 days after the official celebration of our nation's centennial of independence on July 4th. Although 37 was the official star count 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 (to reference the original 13 colonies) are the two star counts most often seen at the centennial celebration. The 38 star flag was generally used until 1889, when four new states joined the Union.

Mounting: The flag is not mounted.

Condition: There is moderate mothing in the center red stripe, accompanied by more minor mothing and loss from wear in other stripes. There is a minor tear in the sleeve.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 38
Earliest Date of Origin: 1876
Latest Date of Origin: 1889
State/Affiliation: Colorado
War Association: 1866-1889 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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