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  CONFEDERATE PARADE FLAG WITH U.C.V. OVERPRINT, THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN USED AT THE LAST REUNION OF THE UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION IN 1951

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 11.75" x 14.75"
Flag Size (H x L): 5.75" x 9"
Description....:
CONFEDERATE PARADE FLAG WITH U.C.V. OVERPRINT, THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN USED AT THE LAST REUNION OF THE UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION IN 1951:

Confederate parade flag of a type widely thought to have been made for the very last reunion of the United Confederate Veterans organization in 1951. When in rectangular format, this design, sometimes called the "Battle Flag" or the "Southern Cross", actually saw official use on ships as the Confederate Navy Jack. When square in shape, is often termed the "flag of the Army of Northern Virginia", after the well-known division, commanded by General Lee, that carried it as their battle flag.

The U.C.V., or United Confederate Veterans, wasn't founded until 1889, after it became more acceptable for the aging members of the former Confederate Army to gather together for purposes relating to their former service. Wikipedia probably gives the best, most concise description of the U.C.V. that I have encountered:

"Prior to 1889, Confederate veterans had no national organization similar to the Grand Army of the Republic [the primary veterans' association for the Union Army]. Several separate fraternal and memorial groups existed on a local and regional level. Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1889, several of these groups united and formed the United Confederate Veterans Association. The organization was founded to serve as a benevolent, historical, social, and literary association. The UCV was active well into 1940's.

The primary functions of the organization were to provide for widows and orphans of former Confederate soldiers, preserve relics and mementos, care for disabled former soldiers, preserve a record of the service of its members, and organize reunions and fraternal gatherings. At its height, membership in the organization was approximately 160,000 former Confederate soldiers organized into 1,885 local camps. The UCV produced a magazine called Confederate Veteran with articles about events during the war and providing a forum for lost comrades to locate one another."

The construction of the flag is akin to that of two known styles of American flags that were known to have been produced in Japan following WWII, both during and after U.S. occupation. Small 48 star American national flags are known with paper tags that read "Made in Occupied Japan". 49 star flags also exist that were made using the same fabric. These date between 1959 and 1960 and seem to mark the end of the period in which this ultra-sheer silk blend or synthetic was used for flag-making.

Many people are surprised to learn that the Southern Cross, by itself, was not the national flag of the Confederate States of America. The Confederacy had three successive national designs, known as the first, second, and third confederate national flags. The original first Confederate design looked much like the Stars & Stripes. It consisted of 7 white stars arranged in a blue canton, and three linear stripes instead of thirteen (2 red with 1 white in-between). This is the flag known as the Stars & Bars. Because they were so alike, use of the Stars & Stripes and the Stars & Bars on the same battlefield created great confusion. For this reason, the second Confederate flag was adopted on May 26th, 1863. It was white in color, with the Southern Cross (the Confederate battle flag) serving as its canton. Soldiers and officers alike disliked this design because it looked too much like a surrender flag, and, if given the opportunity, they would dip the end in blood.

36 days before the war's end a red vertical bar was added at the fly end and the result became the third national design. This was the "blood stained banner", but officially it did not represent blood, but rather paid homage to the French, who lent aid to the South during the war. If you were to replace the first third of the 3rd Confederate National flag with a blue vertical bar, the result would be the French tri-color, the national flag of France.

Mounting: The ogee-profile frame dates to the period between 1900 and 1920. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton rag mat. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is U.V. protective.

Condition: There is very minor staining, but there are no serious condition issues.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1950
Latest Date of Origin: 1951
State/Affiliation: The Confederacy
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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