Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
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  44 STAR PRESENTATION FLAG, 1894 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE, WISCONSIN

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L):
Flag Size (H x L): 75" x 78.5"
Description....:
44 STAR PRESENTATION FLAG, 1894 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE, WISCONSIN: 44 Star American National Flag with painted lettering that reads: "Marshfield, The Banner Town of the Dem. 6th Cong. Dis., Semper Fidelis, Presented by the Dem. M.C.A.D. 1894." Note that "Dem.: stands for Democracy, and that the town referenced is Marshfield, Missouri. The flag was made in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. It is interesting to note that I acquired two of these flags separately. The other one has 36 stars and is dated 1876. While its condition is inferior, its writing gives us more clues about the tradition and use of both flags: "Presented to the Democracy of Marshfield by the Cong. Candidate of 1876, The Banner Town of the 5th Cong. Dist., Marshfield, Semper Paratus et Fideliter" Lettering like this is extremely rare on surviving examples of 19th century flags that exist outside museums and other public holdings. It is clear from the writing that it must have been customary for a candidate in the 6th (formerly the 5th) U.S. Democratic congressional district to present a flag to the Democratic council (Democracy), located in the town of Marshfield. It may also have been customary to choose a Latin campaign slogan. In this case, the candidate may have been an ex-Marine. "Semper Fidelis" -- or Always Faithful -- is the slogan of the U.S. Marine Corps. The 44th state, Wyoming, gained statehood on July 10th, 1890. Many flag makers would have began to add a 44th star to their flags on or before that day, and the 44 star flag would have generally seen use until the addition of Utah in 1896. The flag's sqarish proportions add a nice element of folk quality to the design. The shape is actually military in origin. Civil War battle flags were roughly 6' square, and Civil War Veterans groups used flags of the same size in their meeting halls. Their flags often had fringes made of twisted gold silk rope, like this one. The stripes and canton of the flag are made of treadle-sewn wool bunting. The stars of the flag are zigzag machine stitched, made of cotton, and appear in an offset row configuration. There is an open sleeve made of blue cotton canvas, which is very unusual. The lettering is in black paint. Mounting: The flag is not currently mounted. For an additional cost, a cotton or wool sleeve can be hand-stitched to the back of the flag along its top edge, so that it may be hung horizontally on a metal rod with even weight distribution. The flag can also be folded in a variety of ways to create a smaller display. It can be stitched to 100% cotton, and mounted on archival materials over a wooden stretcher frame. A plexiglas case could also be fabricated to fit over the frame, or it can be framed in a traditional manner. Condition: Excellent for the size and age. There is minor scattered mothing, and minor fading at the fly end. There is also some minor-moderate soot at the fly end. The flag is very colorful color and lettering is bold.
Collector Level:
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 44
Earliest Date of Origin: 1890
Latest Date of Origin: 1894
State/Affiliation: Wisconsin
War Association:
Price: No
 

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