| 46 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG IN AN EXCEPTIONALLY SMALL AND EXTREMELY RARE SCALE AMONG ITS PIECED-AND-SEWN COUNTERPARTS, REFLECTS THE PERIOD WHEN OKLAHOMA WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, circa 1907-1912 |
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| Web ID: | 46j-904 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 40.25" x 59" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 29" x 47.5" |
| Description: | |
| 46 star American national flag in a tiny and very rare scale among its counterparts of the period with pieced-and-sewn construction. The 46th state, Oklahoma, joined the Union on November 16th, 1907, during Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency. Roosevelt had many friends in the Oklahoma Territory from his Rough Rider days, and pushed it through to statehood. The 46 star flag became official on July 4th, 1908 and remained so until July 3rd, 1912. Many 46 star flags were made earlier, however, in great anticipation of the future addition of the state, which had previously been appointed to Native Americans. The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting that has been pieced by machine. The stars are made of cotton and are double-appliquéd (sewn to both sides) with a zigzag machine stitch. These are configured in staggered rows of 8-7-8-7-8-8, with all of the rows staggered, which is somewhat unusual for this star count. Typically the rows of lineal patterns of 46 stars have staggered rows of stars in these number, but the two rows of 8 that, by necessity, appear next to one-another in line, are justified. There is a sailcloth canvas binding along the hoist with two white metal grommets. Along this “4 x 2 ½” was inscribed in pencil, near the top, on the reverse, to indicate size in feet. For all practical purposes, commercial flag-makers simply didn't produce flags with pieced-and-sewn construction that were 3 to 4 feet in length before the 1890's. There are exceptions to this rule, but until this time, the smallest sewn flags were typically 6 feet on the fly. The primary use had long been more utilitarian than decorative, and flags needed to be large to be effective as signals. Private use grew with the passage of time, however, which led to the need for long-term use flags of more manageable scale. Beginning around 1890, flag-makers began to produce small flags for the first time in large quantities, namely with dimensions of 2 x 3 feet and 2.5 x 4 feet, like this example. Applying the same logic as the U.S. Navy, they chose the 13 star count rather than the full complement of stars for sake of ease and visibility. Sewn flags with the full star count of the period, with fewer than 48 stars, do exist in the catalogs of flag makers, but as evidenced by surviving examples, which are near-to-non-existent, were very likely produced on demand by special order. Because the same scarcity exists in homemade flags of this scale, this 46 star example, at approx. 29” on the hoist by 47.5” on the fly, is an extraordinary find. Mounting: The flag was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert staff. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and have framed thousands of examples. The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color. The black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed molding is Italian. The glazing is U.V. protective plexiglass. Fell free to contact us for more details. Condition: There is minor soiling along the hoist and in the stars. There is minor mothing throughout, accompanied by two areas of modest mothing, one near the bottom, fly end corner of the canton and one at the hoist end of the 5th red stripe. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything |
| Flag Type: | Sewn flag |
| Star Count: | 46 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1907 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1912 |
| State/Affiliation: | Oklahoma |
| War Association: | |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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