RARE FIRST FLORIDA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY U.S. GUIDE FLAG.

RARE FIRST FLORIDA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY U.S. GUIDE FLAG. This is possibly the only known U.S. Civil War Florida Regulation Flag of any kind. The First Florida Cavalry was formed at Fort Barrancas, FL in October of 1863 and saw actions in Florida and Alabama including the Blakely and Mobile campaigns near war’s end in 1865. The First Florida Volunteers, First Regiment of Cavalry, was the only full regiment of U.S. troops raised in the state. This flag is identical to other “general guide” flags known, measuring 18″ x 24″. The flag is totally hand-sewn with silk stripes and canton and a heavy, reinforced 3/4″ silk hoist with 34 white silk embroidered stars in a 6-6-5-5-6-6 arrangement and silk embroidered unit designation “1ST FLA VOLS” in canton. This flag is identical in manufacture and construction to several other known flags in the NY State Collection of New York Unit and the 8th NJ Volunteer Infantry, which is also being offered in this sale. Their survival on these silk flags is quite small, no doubt many were made for other units but there are probably less than 5 or 10 of this pattern in all private/institutional collections combined and this, of course, is the only Florida American Civil War Flag known. Thirty four stars were regulation from July of 1861 until July of 1863 and no doubt this flag was presented to unit upon their first organization late in 1862. These flags are thought to have been contracted from a New York embroiderer and Tiffany is known to have sold very similar embroidered flags. Howard Madaus published in his “Markers for Guide Flags” that this pattern is indeed a product of Tiffany. Fort Barrancus being near the port of Pensacola, had easy access to military goods coming by SHIP from depots in the north and New York. The yellow thread used as shadowing and for unit designation is done with yellow silk thread because yellow typically denotes the Cavalry branch of service. This is a wonderful and unique Florida Civil War Flag that has been conservation-framed and it presents beautifully. CONDITION: Flag overall is very good and 95%+ intact. The blue silk hoist is complete and in very good condition, exhibiting its four hand-whipped eyelets. Good colors with scattered areas of staining. Colors are very good with bleeding of red dye from red stripes to other parts of flag as can be seen in photos. The yellow silk thread used in unit designation is a bit faded as can be seen in pictures. Silk embroidery in unit designation appears fully intact with only minor fraying on about 1/2″ area of the “T” in “1ST”. Blue canton and red stripes are almost 100% intact but white silk has cracking and loss, especially at fly edge. White silk used in flags was typically bleached during the Civil War and often is the most fragile color on Civil War flags. 4-44915 JS68 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2427	$21,275.00	RARE FIRST FLORIDA VOLUNTEER CAVALRY U.S. GUIDE FLAG. This is possibly the only known U.S. Civil War Florida Regulation Flag of any kind. The First Florida Cavalry was formed at Fort Barrancas, FL in October of 1863 and saw actions in Florida and Alabama including the Blakely and Mobile campaigns near war’s end in 1865. The First Florida Volunteers, First Regiment of Cavalry, was the only full regiment of U.S. troops raised in the state. This flag is identical to other “general guide” flags known, measuring 18″ x 24″. The flag is totally hand-sewn with silk stripes and canton and a heavy, reinforced 3/4″ silk hoist with 34 white silk embroidered stars in a 6-6-5-5-6-6 arrangement and silk embroidered unit designation “1ST FLA VOLS” in canton. This flag is identical in manufacture and construction to several other known flags in the NY State Collection of New York Unit and the 8th NJ Volunteer Infantry, which is also being offered in this sale. Their survival on these silk flags is quite small, no doubt many were made for other units but there are probably less than 5 or 10 of this pattern in all private/institutional collections combined and this, of course, is the only Florida American Civil War Flag known. Thirty four stars were regulation from July of 1861 until July of 1863 and no doubt this flag was presented to unit upon their first organization late in 1862. These flags are thought to have been contracted from a New York embroiderer and Tiffany is known to have sold very similar embroidered flags. Howard Madaus published in his “Markers for Guide Flags” that this pattern is indeed a product of Tiffany. Fort Barrancus being near the port of Pensacola, had easy access to military goods coming by SHIP from depots in the north and New York. The yellow thread used as shadowing and for unit designation is done with yellow silk thread because yellow typically denotes the Cavalry branch of service. This is a wonderful and unique Florida Civil War Flag that has been conservation-framed and it presents beautifully. CONDITION: Flag overall is very good and 95%+ intact. The blue silk hoist is complete and in very good condition, exhibiting its four hand-whipped eyelets. Good colors with scattered areas of staining. Colors are very good with bleeding of red dye from red stripes to other parts of flag as can be seen in photos. The yellow silk thread used in unit designation is a bit faded as can be seen in pictures. Silk embroidery in unit designation appears fully intact with only minor fraying on about 1/2″ area of the “T” in “1ST”. Blue canton and red stripes are almost 100% intact but white silk has cracking and loss, especially at fly edge. White silk used in flags was typically bleached during the Civil War and often is the most fragile color on Civil War flags. 4-44915 JS68 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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