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Description: |
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Many fantastic star patterns were made in the patriotism that accompanied the celebration of the Nation�s Centennial in 1876, and this is among the best of all examples. Furthermore, flags with stars that spell out numeric or alphabetical characters are among the rarest of all designs. Only three other designs are currently known to exist.
In the canton of this flag, 38 stars are arranged to form �1776�. The count of 38 reflects Colorado�s pending statehood. The stars have 10 points, 5 of which are narrow and fall between the larger arms. 42 stars make up the numerals 1876. This may reflect speculation that two more states would soon join the Union, as other flags of this period are known that clearly support the same assumption. Or it may be that the number of stars used to spell 1876 may simply have been a matter of convenience.
The 38th state, Colorado, gained its statehood on August 1st, 1876. The flag was official from July 4th, 1877 � July 3rd, 1889. Because flag-making was a competitive venture, no one wanted to be making 37 star flags when others were making 38�s. Flag makers paid little heed to official star counts, and would have begun producing 38 star flags for the nation�s centennial sometime in 1875 or the early part of 1876.
These particular flags with the 1776-1876 formation would certainly have been displayed at the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, an important World�s Fair that served as the official celebration of our nation�s 100-year anniversary of independence. More likely than not, they were made specifically for that event and they bear the unusual trait of being printed on a thin fabric made from blended wool and cotton. The reason for the inclusion of wool was that it sheds water, making it an obvious choice for flags that were to be used outdoors over an extended period. Most parade flags were printed on 100% cotton, because cotton was less expensive and most parades, political rallies, or reunions lasted only one day. Flags made for these events were thus disposable, meant to be used only that one day. The Centennial Exhibition lasted for more than a month and this is the reason that some makers used wool or wool blends for small, decorative flags. This particular variety is constructed of three pieces of fabric, which are treadle-sewn. There is a narrow, treadle-sewn sleeve made of twill weave cotton tape, which was meant to reinforce the hoist end where it was tacked to a wooden staff.
Mounting: The flag was backed with 100% silk taffeta, both for additional support and for masking purposes. Then flag was then hand-sewn to a 100% cotton twill background, black in color. The black fabric was washed to remove excess dye, and an acid-free, dye-setting agent was added to the wash. The mount is backed with archival material and placed in a hand-painted and gilded, distressed Italian molding. The front is u.v. protective plexiglas. |
| Inventory Number: |
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Dealer |
Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, llc |
| Contact |
Jeff Bridgman |
Phone: (717) 502-1281 |
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| Period: |
19th Century (1801-1900) |
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| Date: |
1876 |
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| Origin: |
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| Condition: |
There is minor fabric loss throughout, primarily located toward the top, fly end corner and along the bottom stripe. A combination silk and cotton was placed behind these areas for masking purposes. There is minor foxing and staining, primarily located at the fly end, accompanied by minor discoloration along the top edge of the canton. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. In addition, the extreme desirability of this very scarce example warrants almost any condition. |
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| Measurements: |
flag: 28.5" x 47" frame: 41" x 58.5" |
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| Inventory |
Other Inventory by this Dealer |
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| Web-site: |
http://www.jeffbridgman.com |
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| Price: |
SOLD |
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| E-mail: |
Inquire
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