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  33 HAPHAZARDLY PLACED STARS AND 11 STRIPES ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH ITS CANTON RESTING ON THE WAR STRIPE, POSSIBLY MADE WITH SOUTHERN SYMPATHIES; REFLECTS THE ADDITION OF OREGON TO THE UNION ON VALENTINE’S DAY, 1859; OFFICIAL FROM JULY 4th OF THAT YEAR - JULY 3rd, 1861

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): Approx. 61.5" x 83.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 49" x 71.25"
Description....:
33 star American national flag with a wonderful blend of both academically interesting and visually compelling features. The stars are arranged in what appears to be a lineal fashion, beginning with an approximate row of 6, then quickly disintegrating into what is most likely a random scatter. While there are lots of hidden message in Civil War flags, it can be tricky to discern the intentional from the accidental. In some places, on this particular flag, large groups of stars can be drawn into intriguing whirlpools. While some of these seem to be purposeful on the outset, they never consume all 33, nor develop into an obvious pattern. Whatever the case may be, the stars are oriented this way and that on their vertical axis, with especially pointy arms, bent in various directions. The visual aspects of these conditions emphasize their hand-cut and hand-sewn construction. Random star patterns are both unusual and constitute some of the most aesthetically pleasing configurations that exist on 19th century flags.

Oregon entered the Union as the 33rd state on February 14th, Valentine’s Day, 1859. The 33 star count became official on July 4th of that year and remained so until July 3rd, 1861, the opening year of the Civil War (1861-1865). This was still the official flag the event that marked the beginning of the war, and aa 33 star flag was flying above it during the attack. Flag makers cared little for what was official. In terms of the sewing or printing of a new flag, as soon as a new state was in, if not even beforehand, in hopeful anticipation, the corresponding star was generally added. Though the 34th star would, theoretically, not be added until July 4th, 1861, because Kansas had already acquired statehood, on January 29th of that year, production for the war, most production went straight to 34 star flags at or around that time. For this reason, 33 star flags were generally not produced for the war, though some, such as the Ft. Sumter flag, were still in service. For this reason, the 33 can be considered as more of a pre-Civil War flag than a war-period one, which helps to explain why 33 star examples of the American flag are far-and-away more scarce than their 34 and 35-star counterparts.

Note that the flag has just 11 stripes. While scarcity and human error cannot be completely ruled out as causes of conditions such as this, when it comes to flags of this era, certain features have been identified that communicate the politics of the time. From the spring of 1861 onward, a count of 11 equaled the number of Slave States that voted in favor of secession, by the various legislative means specified within their individual rules of law. During both the Antebellum and the war itself, flags with both star and stripe counts that bore political messages were produced in both the North and the South to convey messages of disunion. When less obvious, such as flag with 11 stripes instead of 13, may have marked where Southern-leaning parties could seek a safe house, a meeting place to exchange news, or some other advantage. Because many New Yorkers, for example, had significant monetary investment in southern cotton, wartime communication demanded considerable use of discretion.

On May 20th, 1861, the North Carolina legislature voted unanimously in favor of secession, becoming one of just two states to do so, the other being South Carolina. Curiously, while South Carolina led the charge, on December 17th, 1860, North Carolina was the last of the 11 legislatures to put the measure to vote, holding out until, save the Atlantic coast, it was fenced in on all sides, sharing no borders with Union States. The decision to wait was probably a sound one, for several reasons, lacking the folly of haste and diverting unwanted federal attention.

In some states a popular vote of the people was necessary for ratification of the legislative measure. Because no such requirement existed in North Carolina, it was ratified by default on the same day and took immediate effect. Because popular votes in Virginia and Tennessee took place after North Carolina’s vote, it became No. 9 in this line-up, with Virginia and Tennessee as No.’s 10 & 11. Some states also specified a future date, upon which the approved act of secession would take effect. Because North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee did not, they maintained the same order tendered by the popular vote.

The fourth means by which dates of secession could theoretically be measured across states was the order in which they were officially accepted into the Confederate States of America (CSA) by President Jefferson Davis and the CSA legislature. This did not precisely measure secession, so much as it did admittance into the new entity. Nonetheless worth noting, on this list North Carolina was No. 10, followed by Tennessee as No. 11, then by the Border States of Kentucky & Missouri, as No.’s 12 & 13. The latter two did not formally secede, but were viewed by the CSA to have significant enough support for the Southern cause, within their populous, plus sufficient enough leadership and organization to make significant contribution to the war. Maryland & Delaware, the remaining two Border States, were not deemed to meet such requirement.

This is a homemade flag. Any political message that lay within its star or stripe counts reflected the unique views of its maker. A very plausible argument could be made that the 11th stripe reflected NC specifically, or Tennessee. In either case it is of interest to note that a count of 33 stars may have held its own meaning to a Southerner. By May of 1861, Union supporters were, in general, including a 34th star for Kansas, having joined the Union in January as a Free State, though its star had not yet officially been added. A Southerner making a variant of the Stars & Stripes would have loathe to include Kansas among the assets of the North.

Another of the flag’s interesting traits lies in the fact that the canton rests on a red stripe. When this scarce condition occurs, some flag historians have referred to it as the “blood stripe” or the “war stripe”, suggesting the flag was constructed in this manner when the nation was at war. In actuality, the placement probably occurred more often by accident. Not everyone knew where the canton was traditionally placed, and, because there was no official specification until 1912, there was no official standard. Whatever the case may be with regarding the reason, the war stripe feature is highly coveted by collectors and the stripe count of 11 adds an interesting dimension. Both add wartime aspects of educational interest and value.

Examples of the Stars & Stripes made prior to the Civil War (1861-1865) comprise approximately one percent of 19th century flags that have survived into the 21st century. Even the military did not use the flag in a manner that most people might think. While the flag was used to mark ships and garrisons, the flags of ground troops were often limited to the flag of their own regiment, with a design peculiar unto itself, and perhaps a standard that featured the federal arms on a buff yellow or blue ground. Most people would be surprised to learn that ground forces were not authorized to carry the Stars & Stripes until it was assigned to artillery regiments in 1834. Infantry was afforded the privilege in 1841, just prior to the Mexican War (1846-1848), while cavalry regiments were not authorized until the second year of the Civil War, in 1862.

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 did not commonly hang flags in their windows. Private use of the national flag rose swiftly during the patriotism that accompanied the Civil War.

Construction: The canton, stars, and stripes of the flag are made of cotton. The stars are double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) and are hand-sewn throughout. The stripes were pieced and joined with treadle stitching, unusual in 33 star examples, but occasionally encountered. Due to the limitations of the width of the blue cotton employed, the canton was constructed of three lengths of fabric, one full width and the other two pieced from smaller remnants. An open, cotton sleeve binds the hoist, along which the word "Oregon" and the numeral "33" were inscribed in pencil by a previous owner.

Because cotton absorbs water, it was not the ideal fabric for flag-making until advancements were made in its manufacture. Cotton was, however, widely available, inexpensive, and very often the fabric of choice for homemade flags, such as this one.

While the size of the flag might seem large by today's standards, this isn't true of the mid-19th century. Prior to 1890, most pieced-and-sewn examples measured between 8 and 14 feet on the fly. This is because size was important to their function as signals, that needed to be seen and recognized from great distance. A 6-foot flag was considered small during this era and production of flags smaller than this length was extremely limited. Even infantry battle flags, to be carried on foot, were approximately 6 x 6.5 feet by military regulation, slightly smaller than the average quilt of the same period. Because many collectors and one-time buyers alike prefer smaller flags, due to greater ease of framing and display, the manageable scale of this example is an especially positive trait.

All-in-all, a great example of Civil War flag-making, with great graphic qualities and intriguing historical features, likely made to display a message of Southern identity.

Mounting: Conservation mounting and framing by our expert textile conservation staff is included.

Condition: The flag was evidently flown for an extended period, as evidenced by losses in the upper and lower corners of the sleeve and, to a lesser degree, at and near to the fly end in the top and bottom stripes. There is minor soiling and oxidation throughout, and minor stains. There are minor holes in the 3rd, 4th, and last red stripes. There is moderate, though attractive fading of the blue canton. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. Further, the great rarity of 33 star pieced-and-sewn examples warrants practically any condition.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Sewn 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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