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  33 STARS ARRANGED IN A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL VARIATION OF THE GREAT STAR CONFIGURATION, WITH A STAR BETWEEN EACH ARM, OREGON STATEHOOD, PRE-CIVIL WAR THROUGH WAR PERIOD, 1859-1861

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 26" x 34"
Flag Size (H x L): 15.5" x 22.75"
Description....:
33 STARS ARRANGED IN A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL VARIATION OF THE GREAT STAR CONFIGURATION, WITH A STAR BETWEEN EACH ARM, OREGON STATEHOOD, PRE-CIVIL WAR THROUGH WAR PERIOD, 1859-1861:

33 star American parade flag, printed on coarse, glazed cotton. The stars of the flag are arranged in a whimsical variation of what is known as the "Great Star" or "Great Luminary" pattern, in which the smaller stars form a single, large star. The 33rd state, Oregon, entered the Union on February 14th, 1859. The 33 star flag was official from 1859-1861, and was thus still the official flag when Ft. Sumter was fired upon, on April 12th of that year. This event marked the beginning of the Civil War and a 33 star flag was flying at Ft. Sumter during the attack. Because the 34th state, Kansas, had already acquired statehood on January 29th, 1861, flag makers knew that the 34 star flag would soon become official. For this reason, 33 star flags were not produced in great quantity for the war, which would last until 1865, and the 33 can be considered to be more of a pre-Civil War flag than a war-period flag. 33 star flags are far-and-away more scarce than their 34 and 35-star counterparts. Pre-Civil War examples comprise approximately 1% of those flags that survive to the present from the 19th century.

Great star configurations take many forms. In this particular design, the star-shaped profile surrounds a trio of stars in the very center. This interpretation also bears a star between each arm. In other Great Star patterns, these stars in-between the arms line up with the outermost point of each arm to form a circular wreath, which is why their patterns have sometimes been called a "Great-Star-In-A-Wreath". In this case the stars are noticeably inside the outermost point of intersection of the arms of the star, so it can be more accurately called a "Great Star with a Star Between Each Arm". The result is very dynamic as well as exceptionally rare. I can think of only two flags that exist in this exact size and style, in this beautiful example of a Great Star configuration.

Among flag collectors, the Great Star configuration is perhaps the most coveted geometric pattern. It seems to have came about shortly before 1818, when Congressman Peter Wendover of New York requested that Captain Samuel Reid, a War of 1812 Naval hero, help to create a new design that would become the third official format of the Stars & Stripes. The primary concern of ship captains was that the signal remained easily recognized on the open seas. Reid's concept of placing all the stars in a star-shaped pattern would have kept the constellation in roughly the same format as the number of states grew and more stars were added, in a distinct design that could be quickly identified through a spyglass. Though his proposal was rejected by President Monroe due to the increased cost of arranging the stars in this manner, the Great Star was produced by anyone willing to make it. Its rarity today, along with its beauty, has driven its desirability among collectors.

Mounting: The substantial gilded molding has an unusually bold profile, terrific color, and dates to the period between 1810 and 1850. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass.

Condition: There is minor foxing and staining, minor fabric loss and minor misprinting.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 33
Earliest Date of Origin: 1859
Latest Date of Origin: 1861
State/Affiliation: Oregon
War Association: 1777-1860 Pre-Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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