Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
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  EXTRAORDINARY, HOMEMADE, 33 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG, AMONG ITS COUNTERPARTS, MADE OF SILK AND EXPERTLY HAND-SEWN THROUGHOUT, WITH UNUSUAL EMBROIDERED STARS IN A DOUBLE WREATH STYLE MEDALLION; LIKELY MADE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN WHICH LINCOLN WON THE WHITE HOUSE; REFLECTS THE ADDITION OF OREGON IN 1859, OFFICIAL FROM THAT YEAR UNTIL 1861, PRE-CIVIL WAR THROUGH THE WAR’S OPENING YEAR

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 20.5" x 25.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 11.25" x 16"
Description....:
33 star American parade flag in an extraordinary form, homemade, with unusual and especially beautiful stars, arranged in a double-wreath style medallion. Made entirely of silk, both the canton and stripes are constructed of a plain weave taffeta. The stars, hand-embroidered in a five-pointed format that leaves an open, pentagon shaped center, are arranged in two, consecutive, circular rings, with a single star of the same size in the center and a noticeably larger star flanking the primary formation, placed one in each corner. Whimsically compelling, their profiles have a flower or snowflake-like quality that makes them very different from other flags of all periods.

Made in the Civil War era, sometime between the addition of Oregon as the 33rd state, on Valentine’s Day of 1859, and that of Kansas, which entered on January 29th, 1861, in the opening year of the Civil War. Entirely hand-sewn throughout, the flag has few comparables. In more than 35 years as a dealer, more than 25 of those spent handling thousands of flags at a high level, the number of hand-made, Civil War era parade flags of this nature, and of this quality, are so few in number that they stand out starkly and are all but soon forgotten.

Both the canton and the stripes of the flag have been expertly joined and seamed with exceptional skill, employing the tiniest of hand stitches. The first and last stripes utilize a selvage edge at the top and bottom, respectively. The top edge of the royal blue fabric is hemmed in a fashion similar to the seams. The fly edge of the flag was originally rolled back and hemmed, then bound with ivory silk of similar coloration. A fine length of red silk was rolled over and hand-stitched along the hoist. Most of the incorporated fabric at both the hoist and fly was absent when the flag was found, but remnants remained.

The most likely reason for the manufacture of such a flag, for private use, within the era one would expect to encounter a 33 star flag of the sort made to be tacked to a staff and waved at a parade or rally, would be for political campaigning in 1860. It was in this year that Abraham Lincoln became the first successful candidate of the recently formed Republican Party, running on an abolitionist platform, to defeat Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, of Illinois, Southern Democrat John Breckinridge, of Kentucky, and Independent, Constitutional Union Party candidate John Bell, of Tennessee, to assume the White House. Though the 33 star flag remained official until July 4th, 1861, well after the Civil War had begun, with the firing upon federal troops at Ft. Sumter at Charleston, in the preceding April, no one cared what was official. As soon as a new state was in, a star was added by most all flag makers, public and private, if not sometimes well beforehand, in hopeful anticipation. For this reason, 33 star flags were not made for wartime use, with production going straight to flags in the 34 star count. There was a 33 star flag flying at Ft. Sumter during the attack, but unless such a flag already existed and was suitable for whatever use the maker required, 33 would not be a star count readily expected, especially , for example, in use by a newly formed regiment.

Flags made prior to the Civil War are extremely rare, comprising around one percent of 19th century flags that exist in the 21st century. Prior to 1861, 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 rarely hung flags in their windows. The only consistent private use prior to 1861 seems to have accompanied political campaigning.

Even the military did not use the national flag in a manner that most people might think. Most people are surprised to learn that the infantry wasn't authorized to carry the Stars & Stripes until well into the 19th century. The foremost purpose before the Civil War (1861-65) was to identify ships on the open seas. While the flag was used to mark garrisons and government buildings, the flags of ground forces were traditionally limited to the those of their own regiment and a perhaps a federal standard (a blue or buff yellow flag bearing the arms of the United States). Federal artillery units were the first to be afforded the privilege to carry the national flag in 1834. Infantry followed in 1841, but cavalry not until 1862. The first actual war in which the Stars & Stripes was officially carried was thus the Mexican War (1846-48). In more than 20 years of aggressive buying and research, I have encountered extremely few American national flags, produced in an obvious military style that are of the Mexican War period. They exist, but are extraordinarily rare, even among museum holdings.

Among those flags I know to exist in this basic scale, made to be hand-waved and entirely hand-sewn in the Civil War era, this is the best presently known in the 33 star count, and either the winner, or a top-tier platform contender, among those of the same time frame with 34, 35, 36, or 13 stars, with exquisite construction and remarkable visual impact, worthy of any major collection.

Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained a specialized department for this purpose. Our lead conservator holds a master's degree in textile conservation from one of the nation’s top university programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples.

The mount was placed in a substantial, gilded, American frame of the mid-19th century. This is a pressure mount between 100% cotton twill, black in color, that has been washed and treated for colorfastness, and U.V. protective acrylic (Plexiglas).

Condition: There is significant loss in the last red stripe, representing about 2/5 of its surface area. Fabric of similar coloration was placed behind the flag during the mounting process. There is some splitting throughout, especially in the striped field, with some associated loss, the most significant of which occurs adjacent to the hoist and fly ends. There is minor to soiling throughout, once again being most significant at the fly and hoist ends, as well as in the top and bottom-most white stripes. Much of the bindings at both the fly and hoist ends were absent. These were painstakingly restored, with remaining fragmentary fabrics applied on top. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. The flag presents beautifully, its extreme rarity well-warrants its state of preservation.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
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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