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  31 Star Silk Parade Flag -- Great Star Configuration -- California Statehood

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 34" x 42"
Flag Size (H x L): 26" x 33.5"
Description....:
31 star American parade flag, printed on silk, with a beautiful and highly desired Great Star configuration. Note that this particular design is unusual because of the presence of a star between each arm of the great star. Among collectors, the great star configuration is the most coveted of all 19th century geometric patterns. Shortly after the War of 1812, Naval hero, Captain Samuel Reid, suggested to the president that this design should be considered the official star pattern. He did so because of his concern that the flag needed to be more recognizable on the open seas, which was the primary reason for the American ensign in the first place. Reid's proposal was rejected due to the increased cost of arranging the stars in this manner. Never-the-less, since there was no official star pattern, the great star was produced by anyone willing to make it. Its rarity today, along with its beauty, have driven the desirability of American flags with this configuration. Flags made prior to the Civil War are extremely rare, comprising less than one percent of 19th century flags that exist in the 21st century. This is because prior to the Centennial, our flag was simply not used for most of the same purposes we employ it in today. Private individuals did not display the flag in their yards and on their porches. Parade flags did not fly from carriages and horses. Places of business rarely hung flags in their windows. Some of these uses for started to take place during the patriotism that surrounded the Civil War, but civilian use of the flag was not wide spread until 1876. Even the military did not use the flag in a manner that most people might think. The primary purpose before the Civil War was to mark ships on the open seas. While the flag was used to mark some garrisons, the flags of ground troops were often limited to the flag of their own regiment and a Federal standard. Most people would be surprised to learn that the infantry wasn't authorized to carry the Stars & Stripes until 1837, and even then did not often exercise the right because it was neither required nor customary. It was not until the Civil War took place that most U.S. ground forces even then bothered to carry the National Flag. The 31st state, California, entered the Union on September 9th, 1850. The 31 star flag was official from 1851-1858. Mounting: The flag is displayed behind u.v. Protective acrylic. This is a pressure-mount on a background of 100% cotton velvet. The Larsen Jewel molding is contemporary. Condition: The silk fabric was very fragile and had experienced moderate breakdown. For this reason the flag was mounted in an acid free manner to 100% silk before it was framed.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 31
Earliest Date of Origin: 1850
Latest Date of Origin: 1858
State/Affiliation: California
War Association: 1777-1860 Pre-Civil War
Price: No
 

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