TIFFANY & CO. 34-STAR U.S. NATIONAL COLOR OF FAMOUS NEW YORK BATTERY THAT FOUGHT AT GETTYSBURG.

TIFFANY & CO. 34-STAR U.S. NATIONAL COLOR OF FAMOUS NEW YORK BATTERY THAT FOUGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 34-star (1861-1863) all silk, U.S. National Color of the 4th Independent Battery New York Volunteer Artillery. This unofficial artillery battery guide color is made in the same style as the smaller (18″ by 24″) “general guide flags” provided with the stands of colors purchased by donors through Tiffany & Company of New York City for presentation to infantry units from that and adjoining states throughout the Civil War but in a larger format, measuring 23″ on the hoist by 35-1/2″ on the fly. The general configuration is that of the United States national flag, and it is accordingly composed of thirteen alternating red and white silk horizontal stripes, each 1-7/8″ wide, commencing and ending with a red stripe. A dark blue silk canton 13-1/8″ on the hoist by 13-3/8″ on the fly is inset into the field, extending downward from the top through the seventh stripe; this canton bears thirty-four yellow-gold, silk embroidered five-pointed stars, each 1-1/2″ across its points, and set in six horizontal rows: 6-6-5-5-6-6. A dark blue silk sleeve, 5/8″ wide when flat, for an iron rod that screwed into the flag’s staff completes the hoist edge of the flag. The silk embroidered inscription, “4th. Independent/N.Y. Battery.” in 1-1/4″ and 3/8″ high upper and lower case script lettering, decorates the center (red) and the eighth (white) stripes, respectively in yellow-gold and red embroidery. The 4th New York Independent Battery was formed as an engineer company in New York City in late October of 1861 but was changed to artillery service on 7 December 1861 and in March of 1862 sent to the “seat of the war” and attached to Hooker’s Division of the 3rd Army Corps. Its most notable achievement occurred at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 2 July 1863, when its four of its six Parrott Rifles held the left flank of the division line against the onslaught of Hood’s Division in the Devil’s Den. In this action the battery lost three of its guns, two of its men killed and another ten wounded as well as eleven horses and was so debilitated that the battery was broken up and its survivors distributed among other New York artillery batteries on 4 December 1863. It is likely that this flag served with the unit during its 1862 and 1863 campaigns. CONDITION: For its age, as a silk flag, this national color is in remarkably good condition, with only minor damage to the fly end due to service wear and a cracking separation starting where the flag was once folded in half. The flag has been professionally framed, and only minor water staining is noticeable in the upper pair and central stripes. 8-76149 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006

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
	828	$40,250.00	TIFFANY & CO. 34-STAR U.S. NATIONAL COLOR OF FAMOUS NEW YORK BATTERY THAT FOUGHT AT GETTYSBURG. 34-star (1861-1863) all silk, U.S. National Color of the 4th Independent Battery New York Volunteer Artillery. This unofficial artillery battery guide color is made in the same style as the smaller (18″ by 24″) “general guide flags” provided with the stands of colors purchased by donors through Tiffany & Company of New York City for presentation to infantry units from that and adjoining states throughout the Civil War but in a larger format, measuring 23″ on the hoist by 35-1/2″ on the fly. The general configuration is that of the United States national flag, and it is accordingly composed of thirteen alternating red and white silk horizontal stripes, each 1-7/8″ wide, commencing and ending with a red stripe. A dark blue silk canton 13-1/8″ on the hoist by 13-3/8″ on the fly is inset into the field, extending downward from the top through the seventh stripe; this canton bears thirty-four yellow-gold, silk embroidered five-pointed stars, each 1-1/2″ across its points, and set in six horizontal rows: 6-6-5-5-6-6. A dark blue silk sleeve, 5/8″ wide when flat, for an iron rod that screwed into the flag’s staff completes the hoist edge of the flag. The silk embroidered inscription, “4th. Independent/N.Y. Battery.” in 1-1/4″ and 3/8″ high upper and lower case script lettering, decorates the center (red) and the eighth (white) stripes, respectively in yellow-gold and red embroidery. The 4th New York Independent Battery was formed as an engineer company in New York City in late October of 1861 but was changed to artillery service on 7 December 1861 and in March of 1862 sent to the “seat of the war” and attached to Hooker’s Division of the 3rd Army Corps. Its most notable achievement occurred at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 2 July 1863, when its four of its six Parrott Rifles held the left flank of the division line against the onslaught of Hood’s Division in the Devil’s Den. In this action the battery lost three of its guns, two of its men killed and another ten wounded as well as eleven horses and was so debilitated that the battery was broken up and its survivors distributed among other New York artillery batteries on 4 December 1863. It is likely that this flag served with the unit during its 1862 and 1863 campaigns. CONDITION: For its age, as a silk flag, this national color is in remarkably good condition, with only minor damage to the fly end due to service wear and a cracking separation starting where the flag was once folded in half. The flag has been professionally framed, and only minor water staining is noticeable in the upper pair and central stripes. 8-76149 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}