Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
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  44 STARS WITH SHORT, CONICAL ARMS, ARRANGED IN OFFSET ZIGZAG ROWS, SIGNED "J.S. OBERHOLTZER, GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA", WYOMING STATEHOOD, 1890-1896

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): n/a
Flag Size (H x L): 47" x 70.5"
Description....:
44 STARS WITH SHORT, CONICAL ARMS, ARRANGED IN OFFSET ZIGZAG ROWS, SIGNED "J.S. OBERHOLTZER, GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA", WYOMING STATEHOOD, 1890-1896:

44 star American national flag with a variety of interesting features. Foremost among these is the stamped signature along the hoist that reads:

J.S. Oberholtzer
5837 Pulaski Avenue
Germantown [Philadelphia], PA.

It is great to find a 19th century flag with a maker's mark, as so few 19th century examples are signed.

Note how the stars have an interesting shape with unusually short, conical arms. This "fat" star form is sometimes seen on flags of this particular era, but is very uncommon. I once acquired a small 13 star flag made by Betsy Ross's great-granddaughter, Sarah M. Wilson, in Philadelphia, who sometimes signed her flags along their white cotton hoists with her name, date, and place of manufacture. As an alternative to signing the sleeve, she sometimes signed a small piece of paper and gave it to the purchaser. In this particular case, however, she had chosen to sign a heavy cardboard star pattern to accompany her flag. The star pattern was of this exact design found on the Germantown flag, which tends to denote a further correlation between this unusual star shape and Philadelphia manufacture.

Note also note how the stars are arranged with rows of 8 at the top and bottom that sandwich 4 zigzagging rows of 7 stars in-between. This is an attractive way to make a 44 star flag with offset rows of stars and the more pronounced the spacing is, the more visually appealing the flag becomes. In that regard this is a particularly nice example.

At just a hair under four by six feet, the size of the flag might seem very large by today's standards, but in reality it is unusually small for the 19th century. Until the 1920's or after, American national flags with sewn construction, like this one (as opposed to printed parade flags or hand-wavers), were typically large in order to serve their purpose as signals. Sewn flags generally measured between eight and twenty feet long on the fly; sometimes even larger.

The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting that has been pieced with machine stitching. The cotton stars are double-appliqued (sewn to both sides) with a zigzag, machine stitch. There is a twill cotton header with 2 brass grommets for hoisting.

The 44th state, Wyoming, joined the Union on July 10th, 1890. The 44 star flag was generally used from that year until 1896.

Mounting: The flag has not yet been mounted.

Condition: There are losses at the top and bottom of the fly end, accompanied by a moderate hole toward the fly end of the top red stripe. These are accompanied by more minor holes, minor foxing and staining. This condition constitutes an 8.5 out of 10 and is less than expected for a flag of this period that has actually been flown. Many collectors prefer early flags to show their age and history of use.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 44
Earliest Date of Origin: 1890
Latest Date of Origin: 1896
State/Affiliation: Wyoming
War Association: 1866-1890 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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