| 24 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG, MADE IN THE PERIOD WHEN MISSOURI WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, 1821-1836, EXTRAORDINARILY RARE, WITH ITS CANTON RESTING ON THE “WAR STRIPE” OR “BLOOD STRIPE, AND IN A REMARKABLY TINY SCALE AMONG FLAGS OF THIS ERA |
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| Web ID: | 24j-806 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | Approx. 41" x 49" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 29" x 37.25" |
| Description: | |
| Missouri became the 24th state on August 10th, 1821. Although stars were not officially added to the American national flag until the 4th of July following a state's addition, [by way of the 3rd Flag Act of 1818,] the 24th star would have been added by most flag-makers, both private and commercial, in or around the time Missouri joined. The 24 star flag became official on July 4th, 1822, and was generally used until the addition of Arkansas as the 25th state, in 1836. Even though this was an extremely long time for a flag to remain current during the 19th century, 24 star flags that date to this period are extraordinarily rare. Only a small handful of examples exist, certainly fewer than 10. The flag is hand-sewn throughout, as expected in this period. The canton and stripes of the flag are made of wool bunting, of a crudely woven sort, indicative of this period and prior. The stars are made of plain weave cotton of an early, homespun variety, lightweight, like men’s shirting. When viewed on the obverse (front), note how all of the stars are oriented such that they appear canted to the right, with one arm directed in approximately the 1:00 position. These are expertly double-appliqued (applied to both sides). Note their especially pointy profiles, which, in combination with the tiny hand stitches used to apply them, makes for a beautiful presentation. There is a homespun cotton or linen binding along the hoist, of a heavier grade than was employed in the making of the stars, with a tiny, whip-stitched, button hole grommet at the top and bottom. Another interesting trait can be seen 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 legislation regarding this facet of American flag design until 1912, there was no specified position. Here one may note that it rests on the 7th stripe. Whatever the case may be regarding its placement, the war stripe feature is highly coveted by collectors. Flags made prior to the Civil War are rare, comprising one to one-and-a-half percent of 19th century flags that have survived into the 21st century. Prior to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, the Stars & Stripes was simply not used for most of the same purposes that 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 rarely hung flags in their windows. Private use of the national flag rose swiftly during the patriotism that surrounded the Civil War, then exploded in 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 flags were used to mark garrisons, those 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 numeric designation on a painted or embroidered streamer, on a solid buff yellow or blue ground. Most people are 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 issued their iconic, swallowtail, Stars & Stripes format guidons until the second year of the Civil War, in 1862, and even then were not formally authorized to carry the national flag until long afterward, in the 1890’s. At approximately 2.5 x 3 feet, the size of the flag is tiny among its pieced and sewn counterparts of the 19th century. In the period between 1821 -1836, most flags were eight feet long and larger. A garrison flag was 35-45 feet on the fly. A “storm flag,” flown at a fort in inclement weather, was 20 feet. Even flags carried on foot, by ground forces, were generally 6 x 6.5 feet. This is because the primary purpose of flags, in the 19th century and prior, was as signals that often needed to be recognized from great distance. As time passed, the use of flags became more and more decorative, and for the general display of patriotism, but until 1890, most sewn flags [as opposed to printed flags—which didn’t exist in the 24 star period] were very big in modern terms. Because there was very little use for small flags, the smaller they were—especially pre-Civil War—the less purpose they served and the less likely they were to be encountered. Even those flags made for decorative function were often large by today’s standards. The most likely use of this particular flag, during the era in which it was accurate, would be as the flag of a militia group, or as something made for a small craft, or for display in a parade, in honor of the return of Lafayette, in 1824, whose visit resulted in an extraordinary amount of flag-making. It could have also been made for events surrounding the 1826 celebration of the 50th anniversary of American independence. Because the average 19th century sewn flag can be cumbersome to frame and display in an indoor setting, many collectors prefer printed parade flags, and smaller sewn flags, like this extraordinarily rare find. In 25 years of aggressive buying, this is one of just 4 or 5 flags with 24 stars, that actually dates to the 1821-1836 period, that I have ever had the opportunity to acquire. All major collectors of large, sewn flags, who released books on the subject, with examples that bore 24 stars, have dated them incorrectly. Most of the examples I have seen for sale, that date to the 19th century, are Civil War period exclusionary flags, the stars counts of which remove the Southern States. These were misunderstood at the time that collectors were writing the first major books and, like most examples with 30 or fewer stars, were—and continue to be—misdated by auction houses, dealers, collectors, museum staff, lay people, and others who examine them, who simply have not handled enough material, and thus do not understand the subject well enough, to identify them as period to when we had as many states as are reflected by their stars. For anyone wishing to actually own a 24 star flag that is period to the era of Missouri statehood (1821-1836), in a small size that is easy to display, this is the possibility that I have seen available in 24 years of non-stop searching. Mounting: The flag was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert staff. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and have framed thousands of examples. The flag has been back-stitched (flat-lined) to a 100% natural supportive fabric throughout. It was then hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, that has been washed and treated for color fastness. The black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed molding, is Italian. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic. Condition: There are obvious losses from age and long-term use. The colors are exceptional. The white stripes were washed to remove soiling and contaminants, using only distilled water. Some color restoration was pursued in the white stripes only, with a reversible medium. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. The flag presents beautifully. The extreme rarity of this example warrants practically any and all condition issues. |
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| Collector Level: | Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings |
| Flag Type: | Sewn flag |
| Star Count: | 24 |
| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1821 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1836 |
| State/Affiliation: | Missouri |
| War Association: | 1777-1860 Pre-Civil War |
| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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