Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
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  CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION PARADE FLAG WITH LADY COLUMBIA

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 52.5" X 38.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 42" X 28"
Description....:
36 STARS, LADY COLUMBIA PORTRAIT, EXTREMELY RARE, MADE FOR THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION: American parade flag, printed on coarse, glazed cotton. Set perpendicular to the stripes, so that the flag must be displayed vertically, is an open, tombstone-shaped window with an elaborate five-color overprint. This includes a portrait of Lady Columbia (aka Miss Columbia / Lady Liberty) holding an olive branch and a downward-pointing sword in her right hand and the scales of commerce over her head. She is flanked by a cornucopia, a fanciful patriotic shield, and an architectural gazebo with the word "Liberty" on its domed roof. In the arch above her is the word "Centennial" and below are the dates "1776-1876". This is the only known parade flag to exist in this exact style. A companion flag is known in a slightly larger size, but Lady Columbia is slightly different on the other example. In the other portrait, she is holding a flag on a pole that is topped with a liberty cap, and she is flanked by an eagle, a shield, olive branches, a cannon barrel, and a rose. Few parade flags, if any, are known before this time or after, with overprinted advertising as extravagant as this design, or with multiple colors. Companion flags also exist to this design which have a standing portrait of George Washington in place of Lady Columbia. I have seen between two and four of these Washington examples [having possibly seen the same one two or three times]. I presently own the most recognizable of the Washington counterparts, which was formerly a part of the Mastai Collection and is pictured in several text. The use of 36 stars on flags made for the Centennial International Exposition, when we had 37 states (until August 10th) or 38 states (afterward) was not uncommon. It was probably a matter of convenience, being easy to design, and had no other underlying purpose. Penciled under than canton are the beginnings of lettering that was to read "Hayes and Wheeler". The owner of the flag obviously intended to use it to promote the presidential campaign of Rutherford B. Hayes, but the printing was never completed. Hayes ran for the White House and won in 1876. The outstanding characteristics present in this flag and its great rarity as the only known example make it one of the best printed flags that exists from our nation's 100-year anniversary, a time period when some of the most beautiful 19th century parade flags were made. Mounting: Then flag has been hand-sewn to a 100% cotton background, black in color. The black fabric was washed to remove excess dye, and an acid-free, dye-setting agent was added to the wash. The mount is backed with coroplast and placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed, contemporary Italian molding. The front is u.v. protective acrylic. Condition: There is minor staining, foxing, and fabric loss, accompanied by minor dye loss and minor to moderate fading. There are small holes and some linear separations. Given the quality and rarity of the flag, almost any condition would be acceptable. Further, many of my clients prefer flags that show their age and obvious use.
Collector Level:
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 36
Earliest Date of Origin: 1876
Latest Date of Origin: 1876
State/Affiliation: Colorado
War Association:
Price: No
 

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