| 48 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG, MADE circa 1912-1945; REFLECTS THE ERA WHEN NEW MEXICO & ARIZONA WERE THE MOST RECENT STATES TO JOIN THE UNION |
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| Web ID: | 48j-949 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 35.5" x 59" |
| Description: | |
| 48 star American national flag, made sometime between 1912 and the WWII era (U.S. involvement 1941-45). This star count became official on Independence Day, 1912, following the addition of New Mexico on January 6th of that year and Arizona on February 14th (Valentine’s Day). It remained so throughout WWI (U.S. involvement 1917-18), WWII (U.S. involvement 1941-45), and the Korean War (1950-53), until Alaska gained statehood in 1959 and the 49th star was added. 1912 also market the year that President Howard Taft, by Executive Order, set forth most of the official attributes for the American flag. Most people are unaware that before this time, there was no official way to arrange the stars on the American flag, no official orientation of each star (i.e., two points directed upward instead of one), no official number of points that the stars had to have (i.e., 5 vs. 6-pointed), no official shades of red and blue, no official proportions for the flag or the blue union (canton), and no official placement of the canton against the striped field (i.e., resting on the 7th stripe vs. the 6th). Prior to this time, there was an official number of stars, and of stripes, but the rest of its features were moreover left to the liberties of the maker. The stars of this particular example are made of plain weave cotton and are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with a zigzag machine stitch. The canton and striped field are made of wool bunting, that has been pieced and joined with a lineal machine stitch. This fabric was one exclusively used for the making of flags and banners. Wool sheds water and the open, gauze-like weave allowed air to pass through, reducing wind resistance while aiding the expulsion of moisture. Production of wool bunting flags fell drastically after the Second World War in favor of various weaves of cotton and cotton/synthetic blends that resisted moths and were more durable than those previously available to flag makers. There is a sailcloth canvas binding along the hoist, with two brass grommets, along which, on the obverse (front), near the top, a very faint, black stencil reads “5x” to indicate its length on the fly, in feet. Another stencil appears below, too faint to read. Mounting: The flag has not yet been mounted. Condition: Overall excellent among its wool counterparts of the period. There is a small, hand-sewn patch on the lower edge of the 2nd red stripe. There is very minor mothing elsewhere throughout the striped field. There is extremely soiling. The stenciled markings along the hoist are significantly faded, as previously noted. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving |
| Flag Type: | Sewn flag |
| Star Count: | 48 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1912 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1945 |
| State/Affiliation: | Arizona |
| War Association: | |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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