EXTREMELY RARE STATE OF MAINE MILITIA FLAG, THE EARLIEST KNOWN VARIANT.

EXTREMELY RARE STATE OF MAINE MILITIA FLAG, THE EARLIEST KNOWN VARIANT. This exceedingly rare early Maine military flag is on white silk with lithographed designs having crisp and vivid colors. It is exceedingly rare and one of only a couple of known survivors. A google search revealed FOTW “Flags of the World” website consists of an excellent overview of the flag and its origination was done by Rick Wyatt, Nov. 6, 1996 “Earliest State of Maine Militia Flag. Shortly after achieving Statehood in 1820, the legislature passed a law regulating the military forces of the State, the Maine Militia. In 1822, the Quartermaster General (QMG) was directed by the legislature to furnish the regiments with the “appropriate colors” of the new State. To accomplish this, they appropriated the sum of $200, which in 1822 could buy one, maybe two, hand painted silk flags for the regiments, which numbered many more than two. The QMG, however, was a resourceful man. He contacted some friends of his in Boston, who, in turn, put him in touch with the Prang Art Company. They had never made anything out of cloth before but they were experts at printing multi-color designs on paper. They did some tests on some silk (purchased for $2 out of the QMG’s own pocket) and offered to make the fifty flags being sought for $200. They were a four-color lithographic print on white silk of the Maine State Arms, the artistic design taken from the Colors of the Westbrook Light Infantry Company (described by the “Eastern Argus” as “the handsomest in the state.”) that was painted by John Penniman of Boston, the foremost Military Standard painter of the day. The order was placed and the flags were supplied – The State Arms was printed twice for each flag and one print was appliquéd to the reverse of each flag. The design shows the shield of the Maine Arms with a White Pine Tree and a Recumbent Moose on white with the State Motto “Dirigo” on a ribbon above the North Star (with one point down) over a torse. Below, on another ribbon, is the name of the State, “Maine.” Below that is another ribbon that was printed to read “__ REGT. of INFY. __ BRIGE. __ DIV.” with space for the insertion of the appropriate numbers of the regiments. Two existing examples of these flags are known to exist, one in the collections of the Maine State Museum in Augusta and one in the collections of the Maine Historical Society in Portland. In addition, all the official papers regarding their original purchase (and an additional purchase in 1828) are in the Maine State Archives.–Dave Martucci, 6 September 1996” The official coat of arms for the State of Maine is similar to the arms on this flag but also include a husbandman resting on a scythe (on the left) and a seaman resting on an anchor (on the right side). This flag with its blue Dirigo banner above and red regimental banner below carries the title of “1st REGT of INFY 2d BRIGE 3d DIV”. SIZE: 51” on the fly, 39” high. CONDITION: Overall very good. Scattered staining and small tears and separations, one stained, torn and fragmented area measuring about 9” x 6” in the right side of the white field, otherwise this early silk flag is in unusually good condition, the colors and the lithographic design are complete and defined. The flag is currently housed in a under glass with a simple and tasteful wood frame. 4-39683 JS76 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2375	$18,400.00	EXTREMELY RARE STATE OF MAINE MILITIA FLAG, THE EARLIEST KNOWN VARIANT. This exceedingly rare early Maine military flag is on white silk with lithographed designs having crisp and vivid colors. It is exceedingly rare and one of only a couple of known survivors. A google search revealed FOTW “Flags of the World” website consists of an excellent overview of the flag and its origination was done by Rick Wyatt, Nov. 6, 1996 “Earliest State of Maine Militia Flag. Shortly after achieving Statehood in 1820, the legislature passed a law regulating the military forces of the State, the Maine Militia. In 1822, the Quartermaster General (QMG) was directed by the legislature to furnish the regiments with the “appropriate colors” of the new State. To accomplish this, they appropriated the sum of $200, which in 1822 could buy one, maybe two, hand painted silk flags for the regiments, which numbered many more than two. The QMG, however, was a resourceful man. He contacted some friends of his in Boston, who, in turn, put him in touch with the Prang Art Company. They had never made anything out of cloth before but they were experts at printing multi-color designs on paper. They did some tests on some silk (purchased for $2 out of the QMG’s own pocket) and offered to make the fifty flags being sought for $200. They were a four-color lithographic print on white silk of the Maine State Arms, the artistic design taken from the Colors of the Westbrook Light Infantry Company (described by the “Eastern Argus” as “the handsomest in the state.”) that was painted by John Penniman of Boston, the foremost Military Standard painter of the day. The order was placed and the flags were supplied – The State Arms was printed twice for each flag and one print was appliquéd to the reverse of each flag. The design shows the shield of the Maine Arms with a White Pine Tree and a Recumbent Moose on white with the State Motto “Dirigo” on a ribbon above the North Star (with one point down) over a torse. Below, on another ribbon, is the name of the State, “Maine.” Below that is another ribbon that was printed to read “__ REGT. of INFY. __ BRIGE. __ DIV.” with space for the insertion of the appropriate numbers of the regiments. Two existing examples of these flags are known to exist, one in the collections of the Maine State Museum in Augusta and one in the collections of the Maine Historical Society in Portland. In addition, all the official papers regarding their original purchase (and an additional purchase in 1828) are in the Maine State Archives.–Dave Martucci, 6 September 1996” The official coat of arms for the State of Maine is similar to the arms on this flag but also include a husbandman resting on a scythe (on the left) and a seaman resting on an anchor (on the right side). This flag with its blue Dirigo banner above and red regimental banner below carries the title of “1st REGT of INFY 2d BRIGE 3d DIV”. SIZE: 51” on the fly, 39” high. CONDITION: Overall very good. Scattered staining and small tears and separations, one stained, torn and fragmented area measuring about 9” x 6” in the right side of the white field, otherwise this early silk flag is in unusually good condition, the colors and the lithographic design are complete and defined. The flag is currently housed in a under glass with a simple and tasteful wood frame. 4-39683 JS76 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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