Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
Sold Flags



  22 STARS, A SOUTHERN-EXCLUSIONARY STAR COUNT, CIVIL WAR PERIOD

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 5'10" x 11'6"
Flag Size (H x L): folded - 4'2" x 6'11"
Description....:
22 star American National flag of the Civil War era, having large, hand-sewn stars and treadle-sewn stripes. This is probably a ship's ensign. The count of 22 may represent the number of states that the maker deemed loyal to the Union, subtracting those with Confederate sympathies. 7 states originally seceded from the Union, followed by 4 others over the course of the war. But some border states, although never officially joining the Confederacy, had regiments that fought for the South. Thus there are many possible ways at any given time that an individual might come up with the figure "22" to represent loyal states. 35 minus 11 official & 2 border states is one obvious calculation. And although President Lincoln encouraged the citizenry to keep the Confederate states represented on the flag, there were always persons who went their own way and made the flag as they so chose. Alternatively, the flag could have also been made by someone who was from Alabama, in respect to the fact that Alabama was our 22nd state. The 50th anniversary of Alabama statehood occurred in 1869. This date of manufacture is certainly plausible. The hand-sewn stars of the flag are of cotton muslin and are single-appliqued. The canton and stripe are treadle-sewn of wool bunting. There is a linen sleeve that is fitted around a hemp rope hoist. Mounting: The first photo (above) shows the flag as we crudely folded it before we folded more carefully and stitched it down. It was folded to greatly reduce the size of the resulting display. The price includes the mounting of the flag, but not the framing. It can be framed in a variety of methods for an additional charge. Condition: The overall condition is good for a large flag that was very likely used at sea over an extended period. There are 3 replaced lengths of red wool bunting. The first red stripe was completely replaced once, then 1/3 of the length was replaced again at the fly end. There is a 13" section replaced on the 3rd red stripe, and an 8" section at the fly end of the last red stripe. There are hand-repaired lateral tears in the 2nd and 4th red stripes. There are innumerable breaks in the linen sleeve, but it remains intact and exhibits great character.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 22
Earliest Date of Origin: 1860
Latest Date of Origin: 1865
State/Affiliation: Alabama
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: No
 

Views: 2432