Jeff Bridgman Antique Flags
Sold Flags



  BRITISH UNION JACK, PRESS-DYED WOOL, WWI-WWII ERA (1914-1945)

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): [unframed]
Flag Size (H x L): 34.5" x 70"
Description....:
BRITISH UNION JACK, PRESS-DYED WOOL, WWI-WWII ERA (1914-1945):

British Union Jack, made sometime between approximately WWI (British involvement 1914-1918) and WWII (British involvement 1939-1945), probably on the early side of this date bracket.

Basic Facts Surrounding Use of The British Union Flag / Union Jack:
The term “Union Jack” comes from the fact that the device, by itself, was not flown on British ships as its primary colors. The crosses of St. George (to reflect England), St. Andrew (to represent Scotland), and St. Peter (as of January 1st, 1801, to include Ireland), that create what is known as the British “Union Flag,” was instead flown by the Royal Navy as a jack. A jack was flown off the bow when a ship was at port or anchor. In both Britain and the United States, this is officially called the “Union Jack”—a fact that makes the name pretty confusing. In each case it consists of the canton (union) of the national flag flown on the respective ship.

In America, the “Union Jack” is a blue field with white stars. Its size is to be that of the canton of the Stars & Stripes flown by the same ship as its national ensign.

In Britain, there were several variations of the national flag, instead of just one, called the red, blue, and white ensigns. Each consisted of either a red, white, or blue field, with the British “Union Flag” serving as its canton. So the “Union Jack” was the Union Flag by itself. The term “Union Jack” stuck as the common name for the device, no matter how it was employed.

No law has ever been passed to make the Union flag / “Union Jack” the national flag of the United Kingdom. Instead it has become so through precedent. Its first recorded recognition as a national flag came in 1908, when it was stated in Parliament that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". A more categorical statement was made by the Home Secretary, Sir John Gilmour, in 1933 when he stated that "the Union Jack is the National Flag". It is still officially a flag of the monarch, however, rather than of the nation.

Civilian use of the Union flag is permitted on land, but non-naval/military use at sea is prohibited. On land, the Union Jack can be flown by any individual or organization on any day they wish. Until very recently, however, government use was strictly regulated. Prior to 2007, it could only be flown on government buildings on certain specified days, such as those marking the birthdays of members of the Royal Family, the wedding anniversary of the Monarch, Commonwealth Day, Accession Day, Coronation Day, The Queen's official birthday, Remembrance Sunday and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament.

At sea, different rules apply. Prior to 1864, the Red Ensign, White Ensign, and Blue Ensign were all flown by ships of the Royal Navy (RN). In that year, all RN ships were ordered to fly the White Ensign and it became the sole naval flag of the United Kingdom. Until the mid- to late 1960's, the White Ensign was also flown by Canadian, Australian and New Zealand warships. The Blue Ensign was reserved for merchant vessels whose masters are qualified Royal Naval Reserve [RNR] officers and which meet certain other requirements, while the Red Ensign became the British civil ensign.

At sea, the Union Jack is reserved for the RN and no other British ships are permitted to fly it.

Press-Dyed Flags in the U.S. and Great Britain:

Press-dyed wool flags have a nicer appearance and more interesting texture than flags printed on cotton or silk. Most printed flags were made of cotton, because cotton was inexpensive and such flags were often intended for one day's use at a specific parade, political rally, or some other patriotic event. But some events, such as World's Fairs, often lasted for six months and required decorative flags that would last for a longer period. Press-dyed wool flags were made for precisely this purpose in America, because wool sheds water is more appropriate than cotton for extended outdoor use. They were also produced to serve as military camp colors and small boat ensigns for the U.S. Navy.

In America, press-dyeing received its first patent in 1849. It was initially thought to be a novel idea that would improve efficiency in manufacture, but it never gained great popularity, probably because it was found to be less effective and efficient than sewing. Since it was a resist-dye process, to achieve red stripes, strips of waxed fabric or paper had to be cut out and carefully placed on both sides of a length of white wool bunting, which was then pressed very hard and dyed red. The areas where the fabric or paper was placed would not absorb the dye and thus be left white. The process was then repeated to create the blue canton with white stars. This inexact art would often add crude characteristics, such as stripes with irregular borders, in various widths, and stars with inconsistent shapes, in varied sizes. It is likely that this resulted in lost product and wasted time, from flags that had bleeding or misprint issues and were of too poor quality to sell. In the U.S., the method seems to have disappeared entirely by the mid-1890's.

British manufacturers, however, had far greater experience with printing patterns on wool, which is extremely difficult, even today. In Britain, the popularity of press-dying flags seems to have taken hold in the late 1890's, just after America had abandoned it, and it continued at least into the 1960's. These flags are much crisper than their American-made, 19th century counterparts.

Construction: Press-dyed wool bunting, bound on all four sides with machine stitching.

Mounting: The flag is not currently mounted.

Condition: There is very minor staining, but there are no significant condition issues.
Collector Level: Beginners and Holiday Gift Giving
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1914
Latest Date of Origin: 1945
State/Affiliation: Other
War Association: WW 1
Price: SOLD
 

Views: 12727