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  HOMEMADE 13 STAR FLAG OF THE LATE 1890's -1920's ERA, WITH WONDERFULLY FOLKY STARS THAT PRACTICALLY TOUCH ONE-ANOTHER, ARRANGED IN CIRCULAR WREATH PATTERN OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO BETSY ROSS, AND ITS CANTON RESTING ON THE WAR STRIPE; POSSIBLY MADE DURING WWI (

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 34" x 37.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 23.25" x 26.5"
Description....:
HOMEMADE 13 STAR FLAG OF THE LATE 1890's -1920's ERA, WITH WONDERFULLY FOLKY STARS THAT PRACTICALLY TOUCH ONE-ANOTHER, ARRANGED IN CIRCULAR WREATH PATTERN OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO BETSY ROSS, AND ITS CANTON RESTING ON THE WAR STRIPE; POSSIBLY MADE DURING WWI (U.S. INVOLVEMENT 1917-18):

Homemade American national flag with 13 stars, arranged in the circular wreath pattern often attributed to Betsy Ross. Included are some scarce and interesting features. Chief among these are the stars, which have rather fat profiles and are so large with respect to the available space that their arms intermingle and in some places almost touch. This lends a strong visual presentation to the design, which also has great movement.

Also unusual is the profile of the flag, which is nearly square. There were no official proportions until 1912 and even then federal regulations only applied to those flags produced for the Department of the Government, which limited their application to governmental and military use. Hand-made, private use flags like this one could appear in any sort of format and this particular example has a more interesting appearance because of its square shape.

The fact that the canton rests on a red stripe is a rare trait. Some flag historians refer to this as the “blood stripe” or the “war stripe”, suggesting the flag was sometimes constructed in this manner when the nation was at war. There is evidence that the Navy used this design feature on at least some of its flags made during the mid-19th century, however, and sometimes the placement was surely by accident. Curiously, when it does occur in wartime flags, it most often is present among those made during the Civil War (1861-65) and in the era surrounding WWI (U.S. involvement 1917-18). Whatever the case may be, this is a scarce feature that is extremely desirable among collectors.

This flag was made sometime between the late 1890's and the sesquicentennial of American independence in 1926. Most likely it was made in the patriotism surrounding WWI. Its purpose may have been for a parade, or for a theatrical production, or for school child use in some fashion.

The stars are made of cotton and were tacked to the blue canton at the tip of each arm with hand-stitching. Like many homemade examples, these only appear on one side. The canton and stripes are also made of cotton and were pieced by machine. Because very few flags of this period were homemade, those that are have great appreciation among flag enthusiasts and collectors.

The tiny size of the flag among pieced-and-sewn examples is an important quality. Commercially-made flags of this sort were seldom ever produced in such a small size. Due to the scarcity of homemade examples, this is true among sewn flags across the board. Because most people prefer early flags to be of a size that can be easily framed and displayed, and many persons at the same time enjoy flags that have ample enough size to make a significant statement, the scale of this one is at attractive feature.

While we are taught in grammar school that this was what our first flag looked like, there is no hard evidence to prove the claim and the hypothesis of Betsy Ross having designed the first flag is widely accepted as myth among historians. Of the very few Colonial examples that exist, none have survived with this star configuration. Further, while thousands of 13 star flags were made during the during the 19th century, for all manner of patriotic and utilitarian purpose, almost none have survived with this pattern that date prior to the late 1890's.

Research conducted by the National Museum of American History notes that the story of Betsy Ross making the very first American flag for General George Washington entered into American consciousness about the time of the 1876 centennial celebrations. The tale was immensely popular among an American public eager for stories about the revolution and its heroes. The first written documentation of it appeared in a paper written for the Pennsylvania Historical Society by her grandson, William Canby, just shortly beforehand in 1870. At this time Canby made no mention of how the flag was designed, save for the fact that it had 5-pointed stars per his grandmother's suggestion.

Though on rare occasion circles of 13 stars appear in early American imagery, the pattern basically does not appear on actual flags until the period between approximately 1898 to 1913, when Betsy Ross' granddaughter (Rachel Albright) and great grand daughter (Sarah M. Wilson) operated a cottage industry in the East Wing of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, making hand-sewn flags for tourists. Rachael and Sarah proudly proclaimed that their flags, which had a circle of 13 stars, replicated the original, which they likewise reported was designed and made by their mother. Sadly, neither Canby's nor Albright and Wilson's claims are supported by facts.

Because the first American national flag does not survive and no period accounts of it exist, no one actually knows what its star configuration looked like, but it is widely thought that it did not have a circle of 13 stars. In fact, the Betsy Ross pattern didn't become common until the mid-20th century. By the 1976 Bicentennial it was produced in great quantity and today remains the most recognizable style. The longstanding popularity of the myth solidified into legend and flags in the Betsy Ross pattern are always popular.

13 star flags have been continuously produced throughout our nation's history for purposes both patriotic and utilitarian. This was the original number of stars on the American flag, representing the original 13 colonies, so it was appropriate for any flag made in conjunction with celebrations of American independence. 13 star flags were hoisted at patriotic events, including Lafayette’s visit in 1825-26, the celebration of the nation's centennial in 1876, and the sesquicentennial in 1926. They were displayed during the Civil War, to reference past struggles for American liberty and victory over oppression, and were used by 19th century politicians while campaigning for the same reason.

13 star flags were flown by American ships both private and federal. The U.S. Navy used 13 stars on the ensigns made for small boats, because they wished the stars to be easily discerned at a distance. As the number of stars grew with the addition of new states, it became more and more difficult to fit stars on a small flag so that they may be viewed from afar as individual objects. Because any star count that has previously been official remains so today according to the Congressional flag acts, all 13 star flags in an otherwise appropriate design remain official flags of the United States.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% hemp fabric. The mount was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed, contemporary Italian molding. The glazing is U.V. protective Plexiglas.

Condition: There is moderate foxing and soiling, especially at and adjacent to the hoist and fly ends, accompanied by minor oxidation and staining elsewhere throughout. There are tears with associated fabric loss along the hoist end, at and adjacent to points where the flag was once affixed to a wooden staff. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1898
Latest Date of Origin: 1926
State/Affiliation: 13 Original Colonies
War Association: WW 1
Price: Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281
 

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