EXTREMELY RARE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL FLAG OF 1902.

Revised: 10/19/2007

DESCRIPTION SHOULD READ:

EXTREMELY RARE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL FLAG OF 1902. In 1901 it came to the attention of President of Theodore Roosevelt that there were two official versions of the presidential flag; one with a red background used by the Army (of more recent design) and one with a dark blue background used by the Navy (an older design). As there were two totally different presidential flags, it created obvious confusion and a decision was made to utilize only one design for the President and since the Navy was the older of the two, Roosevelt opted to use their design. It was decided, at this time, that the field would be blue rather than red, that an additional change involved the color of the eagle. The normal natural colors (i.e. brown, etc.) for the eagle’s body, made the design far more difficult to distinguish at a distance. Therefore, it was elected that the body of the eagle be white so that it stood out more dramatically against the blue background and was easier to distinguish at a distance. This rare example, consigned by the grandson of the original owner Michel D. Schaefer, was given to Schaefer at his retirement sometime during WWII, during which time Schaefer provided extremely valuable Naval architect and design services for the development of aircraft carriers. Schaefer also participated in the design of this very flag during Teddy Roosevelt’s administration. According to the grandson, his grandmother told him on various occasions (the consignor’s grandfather died when he was a young boy), that F.D.R. himself presented the flag to Schaefer and indicated that this exact flag had been used by his cousin Theodore Roosevelt when he was president. This flag is beautifully silk embroidered, is 43-1/2” on hoist and 61-1/2” on fly. The hoist is embroidered “President’s Standard No. 6 / NY, NY, Sept 1902”. The device on this flag of eagle with constellation of stars was adopted on November 12, 1901, according to accompanying period copies of original correspondence. President McKinley had just been assassinated two months earlier, and Theodore Roosevelt, our new President, enacted this new Presidential flag. The flag is a Navy flag. The number “6” refers to the size of the flag and “NY, NY” refers to Navy Yard, New York not New York, New York. As a result of research and various conversations with some of the nation’s leading vexiollogists, the consignor states that because of its silk construction and the grommet placement that this was a flag used inside a building rather than the outside. He further states that there were actually three of this size and design used in Teddy Roosevelt’s administration; one in the office of the President, one at the entrance of the White House and one at the War Department. Our consignor further states that this exact flag is believed one of those three and the only one currently known to him in existence. This design remained in use until Woodrow Wilson’s administration when it was again changed and thus this design was used for a relatively short period of time. Accompanying this lot is an affidavit from the grandson of Michel Schaefer, reaffirming much of the information listed above. Also accompanying this lot are numerous copies of period government documents relating to the need of a single presidential standard and the enactment and details relating to that. Also included is a copy of the obituary for chief clerk, Michel D. Schaefer and a copy of his certificate of death. This was a governmental flag and as such, would under normal circumstances never appear for public sale and the fact that this President’s official Presidential flag is of a rare design that existed for only a short period of time makes this an even more rare opportunity to own an official, genuine “Great Seal” American Presidential standard. CONDITION: Silk embroidery is very good. Period colors are strong. Silk has numerous cracks and separations at folds, but could be conserved. For display and safety purposes the flag is currently framed under Plexiglas. 4-31117 (10,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

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
	1450	$9,775.00	Revised: 10/19/2007 DESCRIPTION SHOULD READ: EXTREMELY RARE OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL FLAG OF 1902. In 1901 it came to the attention of President of Theodore Roosevelt that there were two official versions of the presidential flag; one with a red background used by the Army (of more recent design) and one with a dark blue background used by the Navy (an older design). As there were two totally different presidential flags, it created obvious confusion and a decision was made to utilize only one design for the President and since the Navy was the older of the two, Roosevelt opted to use their design. It was decided, at this time, that the field would be blue rather than red, that an additional change involved the color of the eagle. The normal natural colors (i.e. brown, etc.) for the eagle’s body, made the design far more difficult to distinguish at a distance. Therefore, it was elected that the body of the eagle be white so that it stood out more dramatically against the blue background and was easier to distinguish at a distance. This rare example, consigned by the grandson of the original owner Michel D. Schaefer, was given to Schaefer at his retirement sometime during WWII, during which time Schaefer provided extremely valuable Naval architect and design services for the development of aircraft carriers. Schaefer also participated in the design of this very flag during Teddy Roosevelt’s administration. According to the grandson, his grandmother told him on various occasions (the consignor’s grandfather died when he was a young boy), that F.D.R. himself presented the flag to Schaefer and indicated that this exact flag had been used by his cousin Theodore Roosevelt when he was president. This flag is beautifully silk embroidered, is 43-1/2” on hoist and 61-1/2” on fly. The hoist is embroidered “President’s Standard No. 6 / NY, NY, Sept 1902”. The device on this flag of eagle with constellation of stars was adopted on November 12, 1901, according to accompanying period copies of original correspondence. President McKinley had just been assassinated two months earlier, and Theodore Roosevelt, our new President, enacted this new Presidential flag. The flag is a Navy flag. The number “6” refers to the size of the flag and “NY, NY” refers to Navy Yard, New York not New York, New York. As a result of research and various conversations with some of the nation’s leading vexiollogists, the consignor states that because of its silk construction and the grommet placement that this was a flag used inside a building rather than the outside. He further states that there were actually three of this size and design used in Teddy Roosevelt’s administration; one in the office of the President, one at the entrance of the White House and one at the War Department. Our consignor further states that this exact flag is believed one of those three and the only one currently known to him in existence. This design remained in use until Woodrow Wilson’s administration when it was again changed and thus this design was used for a relatively short period of time. Accompanying this lot is an affidavit from the grandson of Michel Schaefer, reaffirming much of the information listed above. Also accompanying this lot are numerous copies of period government documents relating to the need of a single presidential standard and the enactment and details relating to that. Also included is a copy of the obituary for chief clerk, Michel D. Schaefer and a copy of his certificate of death. This was a governmental flag and as such, would under normal circumstances never appear for public sale and the fact that this President’s official Presidential flag is of a rare design that existed for only a short period of time makes this an even more rare opportunity to own an official, genuine “Great Seal” American Presidential standard. CONDITION: Silk embroidery is very good. Period colors are strong. Silk has numerous cracks and separations at folds, but could be conserved. For display and safety purposes the flag is currently framed under Plexiglas. 4-31117 (10,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 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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