CIVIL WAR 34 STAR FLAG FROM BALTIMORE ESTATE.

This flag is most unusual in that it started out life as a 32 star flag with two additional stars set in by hand. This flag measures about 43″ x 79″ and would date in its final configuration 1861-1863. Grace Cooper, in her Smithsonian publication 13-Star Flags: Keys to Identification published in 1973, describes a flag that was originally property of The Flag House Museum in Baltimore where this flag originally came. Subject flag we are selling with minor differences in overall size is almost identical in thread types, manufacture, etc. The Flag House Museum’s flag is described as follows and is consistent and appropriate as to description of flag we are offering here: “Type: Thirty-four-stars with thirty-two printed on the field and two additional printed ones which are set by hand. Size: 41-1/2 inches by 76-1/2 inches plus a 1-1/2 inch heading. Fabric: The union is a 22-1/2 inch fabric of single ply, Z-twist cotton warp, and single-ply, slight Z-twist worsted weft. The thread count is 59 by 38. The stars are printed four to the width to a depth of eight rows. Two additional stars were cut from the same type of fabric and are set into the blue portion of the uion, this making a total of thirty-four stars. The stripes are 23-1/2 inch fabric, printed vertically, and there are seven to one width. The second piece has one stripe removed to make a total of thirteen stripes. The same single-ply, Z-twist cotton warp and slight Z-twist worsted weft that is used in the union is also used here. The thread count is 56 by 37. This is probably the same fabric as the union, but the thread count and width would indicate that there was less shrinkage in the printing. Heading: Heavy-weight, plain cotton. Sewing Thread: Heading and hem of the flag and the three middle grommets use 6-cord, S-twist cotton thread made up of three pairs of slight Z-twist; 3-ply, S-twist cotton thread used for hand stitching. The grommets at each end are worked in 2-ply, S-twist linen. Stitching: Heading and hem are machine stitched. Two sections of the stripes fabric and the union have been positioned by hand. Two added stars have been stitched in place by hand. Grommets: Five, handworked. Date: 1861-1863. Because the two added stars are from the same type of fabric, as evidenced by the blue edge visible on the reverse side, this writer would judge that the stars were part of the original manufacture and not added by the owner to a thirty-two-star flag he already had. It is very probable that this cotton and wool fabric was first used for an early attempt by American fabric manufacturers to produce a flag fabric that could compete with imported English bunting.” The added stars on this flag are indeed attached with contemporary S-twist hand sewing thread and material of the stars does appear of same type used elsewhere in flag, however the sewing style is crude and much less refined than would have come out of the flag manufacturer in our opinion. Regardless, this is an unusual and pleasing example of an early Civil War flag. PROVENANCE: Baltimore Estate. CONDITION: Good overall with good colors, staining and soiling. There are numerous small tears, small holes and reductions, the largest being about a 6″ x 6″ piece of bottom two stripes missing near hoist, a 4″ x 2″ piece missing from canton. 4-50840 JS31 (3,000-5,000) – Lot 2285

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2285	$1,770.00	CIVIL WAR 34 STAR FLAG FROM BALTIMORE ESTATE. This flag is most unusual in that it started out life as a 32 star flag with two additional stars set in by hand. This flag measures about 43″ x 79″ and would date in its final configuration 1861-1863. Grace Cooper, in her Smithsonian publication 13-Star Flags: Keys to Identification published in 1973, describes a flag that was originally property of The Flag House Museum in Baltimore where this flag originally came. Subject flag we are selling with minor differences in overall size is almost identical in thread types, manufacture, etc. The Flag House Museum’s flag is described as follows and is consistent and appropriate as to description of flag we are offering here: “Type: Thirty-four-stars with thirty-two printed on the field and two additional printed ones which are set by hand. Size: 41-1/2 inches by 76-1/2 inches plus a 1-1/2 inch heading. Fabric: The union is a 22-1/2 inch fabric of single ply, Z-twist cotton warp, and single-ply, slight Z-twist worsted weft. The thread count is 59 by 38. The stars are printed four to the width to a depth of eight rows. Two additional stars were cut from the same type of fabric and are set into the blue portion of the uion, this making a total of thirty-four stars. The stripes are 23-1/2 inch fabric, printed vertically, and there are seven to one width. The second piece has one stripe removed to make a total of thirteen stripes. The same single-ply, Z-twist cotton warp and slight Z-twist worsted weft that is used in the union is also used here. The thread count is 56 by 37. This is probably the same fabric as the union, but the thread count and width would indicate that there was less shrinkage in the printing. Heading: Heavy-weight, plain cotton. Sewing Thread: Heading and hem of the flag and the three middle grommets use 6-cord, S-twist cotton thread made up of three pairs of slight Z-twist; 3-ply, S-twist cotton thread used for hand stitching. The grommets at each end are worked in 2-ply, S-twist linen. Stitching: Heading and hem are machine stitched. Two sections of the stripes fabric and the union have been positioned by hand. Two added stars have been stitched in place by hand. Grommets: Five, handworked. Date: 1861-1863. Because the two added stars are from the same type of fabric, as evidenced by the blue edge visible on the reverse side, this writer would judge that the stars were part of the original manufacture and not added by the owner to a thirty-two-star flag he already had. It is very probable that this cotton and wool fabric was first used for an early attempt by American fabric manufacturers to produce a flag fabric that could compete with imported English bunting.” The added stars on this flag are indeed attached with contemporary S-twist hand sewing thread and material of the stars does appear of same type used elsewhere in flag, however the sewing style is crude and much less refined than would have come out of the flag manufacturer in our opinion. Regardless, this is an unusual and pleasing example of an early Civil War flag. PROVENANCE: Baltimore Estate. CONDITION: Good overall with good colors, staining and soiling. There are numerous small tears, small holes and reductions, the largest being about a 6″ x 6″ piece of bottom two stripes missing near hoist, a 4″ x 2″ piece missing from canton. 4-50840 JS31 (3,000-5,000) – Lot 2285 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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CIVIL WAR 34 STAR FLAG FROM BALTIMORE ESTATE.