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  PATRIOTIC 1876 CENTENNIAL BANNER WITH AN EAGLE CARRYING THE LIBERTY BELL, SURROUNDED BY 13 STARS AND FLANKED BY PATRIOTIC PHRASES, WITH 38 STARS AROUND THE PERIMETER:

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 25.25" x 38"
Flag Size (H x L): 17.25" x 30.5"
Description....:
PATRIOTIC 1876 CENTENNIAL BANNER WITH AN EAGLE CARRYING THE LIBERTY BELL, SURROUNDED BY 13 STARS AND FLANKED BY PATRIOTIC PHRASES, WITH 38 STARS AROUND THE PERIMETER:

Patriotic banner, printed on cotton, made for the celebration of our Nation's centennial of independence in 1876. This is one of many versions made by the American Flag Company in New York City, but it is a rare example and one of the most elaborate. The imagery consists of a spread winged eagle carrying the Liberty Bell, with the date 1776 above it and 1876 below. In the mouth of the eagle is a red banner with the familiar phrase "E Pluribus Unum" (out of many, one) and behind are six national flags, including those of France, Ireland, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States. Note in particular the beautiful and rare snowflake medallion configuration present in the canton of the Stars & Stripes.

Flanking the central device is a formation of 13 large red stars to commemorate the original 13 colonies, and bold, black text that reads:

Centennial Union.
It Proclaimed Liberty in 1776.
Let it Proclaim Peace and Unity in 1876.
A blue border with 38 stars surrounds the perimeter of the textile. These represent the 37 official stars on the flag in that year, plus a 38th for the state of Colorado, which joined the Union on August 1st.

Below and to the left of the French colors, the word copyrighted appears in parenthesis. It was likely made by the American Flag Company in New York City, is a rare example, and one of the most elaborate. Most of the printed, banner-like textiles made in this era share a tapered, swallowtail format instead of the rectangular one seen here.

An almost identical example of this banner exists in a slightly different version. It has 13 chartreuse yellow stars instead of red. A variant of it also exists in a vertical format with a swallowtail profile. All of the known examples in that style have red stars.

Mounting: The antique frame is earlier than the textile. It dates to the period between 1830 and 1860 and has a black, rippled profile and a gilded ripple liner. The banner has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is U.V. protective.

Condition: There is moderate foxing throughout and minor fraying on the un-selvedged, top and bottom edges.
Collector Level: Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1876
Latest Date of Origin: 1876
State/Affiliation: 13 Original Colonies
War Association: 1866-1890 Indian Wars
Price: SOLD
 

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