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  LARGE TRIANGULAR SUFFRAGETTE PENNANT WITH FANCIFUL "VOTES FOR WOMEN" TEXT AND A ST. LOUIS MAKER'S LABEL, 1910-20

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 21.25" x 40"
Flag Size (H x L): 11.5" x 27.5"
Description....:
Triangular, felt, suffragette pennant, with nice, large scale and black lettering in a fanciful style that reads: "Votes for Women." Yellow was the customary color of the suffrage movement in America, coupled with a variety of subordinate colors, primarily black on felt textiles. Violet and green were the traditional colors of the women's movement in England, though these sometimes appear in the States. Suffragette pennants are particularly scarce and sought-after. This is nice example in a great, bold size.

On the reverse of the pennant is a label that reads: "St. Louis Button Co.; Manufacturers of Advertising Specialties; St. Louis Missouri," accompanied by the Union Bee of the St. Louis Allied Printing Trades Council. This was a national organization of unions involved in all aspects of the printing trade. Labels are rare on Suffrage textiles, so the presence here is an interesting feature.

According to the Busy Beaver Button Museum: "The St. Louis Button Company was founded in 1893 to manufacture celluloid buttons and other novelty items. It printed employee ID badges, convention badges, advertising buttons, etc.. The company eventually designed the buttons, assembled them, and printed and stamped them for shipment in its own factory.

In 1901, it marketed a "Little Giant Button Machine," which made buttons from one-half inch to 3 1/2 inches in diameter.

[The firm] printed buttons for some notable politicians, including Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives…and was in business well into the 1950's." (Source: https://buttonmuseum.org/button-manufacturers.)

Mounting: The textile was mounted and framed within our own conservation department, which is led by expert trained staff. We take great care in the mounting and presentation of flags and have preserved thousands of examples.

The background is 100% cotton twill, black in color. The mount was then placed in a modern frame with a finish that is very dark brown, nearly black, with red with a red undertone and highlights, to which a black-painted and hand-gilded Italian molding was added as a cap. The glazing is U.V. protective plexiglass.

Condition: There is some splitting and minor loss in the letter "O" of the word "Votes." There is modest to moderate soiling throughout, a nick in the fabric along the lower edge, and minor fabric loss at the tip. All of the above is from obvious long-term use. Many of my clients prefer early flags and related textiles to show their age and history of use, especially when this presents in an attractive and endearing way, which is certainly the case here.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1910
Latest Date of Origin: 1920
State/Affiliation: Missouri
War Association:
Price: Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281
 

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