| ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG MADE FOR THE 1860 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN & HANNIBAL HAMLIN, WITH 31 STARS IN A FANCIFUL STARBURST OR ‘GREAT STAR-IN-A-SQUARE’ MEDALLION; ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST GRAPHIC OF ALL CONFIGURATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLES; THE ONLY KNOWN LINCOLN CAMPAIGN FLAG IN THIS STYLE, AND ONE OF JUST 3 PARADE FLAGS OF ANY SORT THAT SHARE THIS SPECTACULAR STAR ARRANGEMENT |
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| Web ID: | 31j-860 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 26" x 31" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 12.25" x 17.25" |
| Description: | |
| Among printed parade flags, those made for the two, successful presidential runs of Abraham Lincoln are, collectively, the most desired. This incredible 31 star example, printed on cotton, presently survives as the only known variant in this style. Note the combination of Roman letters, used to create the block-printed text, and the fancifully embellished conjunction that joins them, presented within the 3rd, 4th, and 5th white stripes. In the world of antique American flags, there are nearly countless star patterns. In addition to the direct relationship between this one and Lincoln, the flag is extraordinary from a visual perspective, and is exceedingly rare. Although there was no official star design until 1912, most examples made prior to that had some semblance of rows or columns. A small percentage instead presented them in circular wreaths, often accompanied by a star in the center and a star in each corner. This reflects the next step up the rarity scale. Far-and-away fewer representing just a tiny fraction of the total, arranged them in the form of one big star. Known as the Great Star or Great Luminary pattern, this sort of the Rolls Royce of geometric designs on early American flags, but there are rarer and more highly coveted patterns still, among which are such things as ovals, arches, pentagons, and circles within squares, and completely random arrangements. There are flags where the stars form alphabetic or numeric characters, some of which are among the scarcest of all, but among the geometric designs, the most beautiful and coveted include snowflakes, starbursts, shields, diamonds, and odd combinations of all the above. From a folk art perspective, these can excel beyond all others. Bold and whimsical, this particular flag, printed on cotton, has 31 stars arranged in a configuration that falls among the best that one may ever encounter from the 19th century. The design can perhaps be placed into the general category of what I have termed "starbursts", meaning that the arrangement seems to spring forth from the center, like an exploding firework. The nucleus of this particular variant incorporates a Great Star pattern in the center (a star made out of stars). Great Stars vary widely in how they are assembled. In this case, the design is comprised of a large center star, with 5 small stars placed about it, one between each arm, so that they form a pentagon. Beyond are 5 slightly larger stars, arranged so that they complete the star-shaped profile. 8 large stars, slightly smaller than the one in the center, are equally distributed about the perimeter and to form a rectangle. Arches of 3 smaller stars flank each corner towards the interior, connecting the spaces between the points of the larger stars. Because the Great Star pattern does not connect with the stars outside it, one could certainly argue that a more precise term for the configuration might be a "Great-Star-in-a-Square" with bracketed corners. But the inner stars do connect with the outer ones in various distinct ways. Note the prominent, narrow "V" shape, for example, that forks upward from the large star in the bottom center. Note also how the large center star, plus the Great Star arrangement itself, plus the 8 large stars around the perimeter, all appear upside-down with respect to how we typically expect to see a five-pointed star today (w/ two points up instead of one). No one knows if this orientation had any purpose. It is entirely possible that the designer view any particular position as being ‘right-side-up.’ Whatever the case may be, however, the trait is both more unusual to the eye, and more interesting to collectors for reasons both graphic and academic. At present there are just three known parade flags in this style, all of which we have had the great privilege to own. This one, however, unlike the others, is the only one embellished with the “Lincoln & Hamlin” text. In 1888, the flag was evidently brought forth for posterity, and to draw attention, probably by a former Lincoln supporter or a child thereof, who sewed (or had it sewed) into an apron, produced for the Republican presidential campaign of Benjamin Harrison & Levi Morton. The apron, of the sort worn for parade use, or during fundraising, is illustrated on p. 56 of a wonderful text on patriotic American objects, by Deborah Harding, entitled “Stars and Stripes: Patriotic Motifs in American Folk Art”, (2002, Rizzoli, NY). California became the 31st state in 1850, ushered in on the heels of the 1849 Gold Rush. The 31 star flag became official on July 4th, 1851, and remained so until July 3rd of 1858. Political campaigns seem to have fueled most of the pre-Civil War use of printed parade flags. A significant number of those that bear political overprinted advertising, like this flag, will have a star count that falls behind whatever was official at the time. The circumstance occurs so often as to be of no surprise whatsoever. It may be that flag-makers often selected old stock to produce them, recognizing that few of those that purchased or waved them would bother to count the stars, especially with the focus shifted clearly to the verbiage and/or images included. Flags made prior to the Civil War comprise just 1% or so of what has survived from the 19th century into the 21st. Prior to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, the Stars & Stripes was simply not used for most of the same purposes we employ it in today. Private individuals did not typically display the flag in their yards and on their porches. Parade flags didn't often fly from carriages and horses. Places of business rarely hung flags in their windows. Private use of the national flag rose swiftly during the patriotism that accompanied the Civil War, then exploded in 1876. Even the military did not use the flag in a manner that most people might think. The primary purpose before the Civil War was to mark ships on the open seas. Most people would be surprised to learn that ground forces were not authorized to carry the Stars & Stripes until 1834 (artillery), 1841 (infantry), and 1862 (cavalry). While the flag was used to mark some garrisons, the flags of ground troops were often limited to one with symbolism peculiar to their own regiment, and perhaps a Federal standard, with stars and an eagle, often incorporated in some form of the Great Seal of the United States. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly backwards orientation. In the 19th century, the same flag ethics that exist today did not apply. In fact, display of the American national flag with the canton in the upper left did not enter the American consciousness, as the one correct manner of presentation, until flag ethics began to emerge, at the tail end of the 19th century and was not formally recognized by Congress until the Flag Code, assembled to suggest proper means of use and display—as opposed to mandates and measures required by law—was adopted in 1923. Prior to this time, it was just as common to see the flag displayed with the canton on the right. It is interesting to note that Lincoln was hardly the favorite at the beginning of the campaign, winning the Republican nomination from the 3rd ticket. He then defeated John Bell (Constitution Party), John Breckinridge (Southern Democrat), and Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), to become the Republican party’s first president. Lincoln was elected with a mere thirty-nine percent of the vote and carried no state south of the Mason-Dixon line. Hannibal Hamlin, our nation’s first Republican vice president, was born in Maine in 1809. He was an attorney who, in his political career prior to the White House, served as Chairman of the Maine State House of Representatives, as a U.S. Congressman and Senator, and as Governor of the State of Maine. He was a Democrat until 1856, but was an opponent to slavery. He did not run with Lincoln in the second campaign in 1864, but did return to the U.S. Senate from 1869-1881 and served as Minister to Spain from 1881-82. 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 two-part molding consists of a wide, gilded, Sully style, antique American frame, made circa 1820-1830, to which a modern, convex molding, black, with a textured surface, was added as a liner. The flag has been hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness. The glazing is Optimum Museum Acrylic (Plexiglas), U.V. protective, anti-reflective (crystal clear), and scratch-resistant. Condition: There are moderate losses along the leading edge, where the flag was once affixed to its original, wooden staff. These are accompanied by a few tiny holes occurring in the canton, just below it, within the 2nd white stripe, within the 5th white stripe around the letter “H,” and a few extremely tiny instances almost not worth mention. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. The extreme rarity and desirability of this example warrants practically any condition. The flag presents exceptionally well. |
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| Collector Level: | Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings |
| Flag Type: | |
| Star Count: | 31 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1850 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1860 |
| State/Affiliation: | California |
| War Association: | 1777-1860 Pre-Civil War |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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