MODEL OF 1862 (34 STARS) U.S. “STARS & STRIPES” CAVALRY GUIDON.

MODEL OF 1862 (34 STARS) U.S. “STARS & STRIPES” CAVALRY GUIDON. Regulation “Stars & Stripes” (“New Pattern”), Model of 1862 (34 star) company guidon for cavalry and light artillery. From 1833 through 1861, the guidons used to guide the movements of dragoon, mounted rifle, and cavalry companies as well as those of “light” (field) artillery batteries was a relatively simple design. Except for markings, these small (27″ hoist by 41″ fly) company flags were alike and consisted of two horizontal bars, red over white, cut swallow tailed, with the cut of the swallowtail centered 27″ from the hoist edge. Supposedly, because these flags resembled the Confederate national flag (the “Stars & Bars”), on 7 Jan. 1862, the Secretary of War issued a directive that henceforth the design of the guidons of cavalry and light artillery would conform to the current U.S. national flag, the “Stars & Stripes”, while overall dimensions and shape were to remain as before. (In fact, when the existing stock of red over white guidons were altered by Philadelphia contractors, the cut of the swallowtail was made considerably deeper, usually between 16″ and 19″ from the staff). This “Stars & Stripes” guidon conforms to the “new pattern”. It’s exterior dimensions, 25-3/4″ on the hoist by 38-3/4″ on the fly, fall within the acceptable tolerances permitted by the Army’s quartermaster inspectors, and the distance from the hoist to the cut of the swallowtail is 18-1/8″. The field of the guidon consists of 13 horizontal alternating red and white silk stripes, commencing and ending with a red stripe, each approximately 2″ wide. A dark blue silk canton, 14-1/8″ high on the hoist by 15-1/8″ (the latter including the 1-7/8″ wide sleeve for the staff) is inset into the upper, staff corner, extending down through seven stripes. This canton bears on each of its sides 34 gold painted, 5-pointed stars, each 1-1/4″ across their points. 30 of the stars are set in two concentric elliptical rings. The inner ring bears 12 stars and the outer ring 18; one additional star graces each corner of the canton to bring the total to the number of states in the Union between Jan. of 1861 and June of 1863. Although the U.S. Army Quartermaster Department would contract (through a dozen firms) for no fewer than 7,856 of the “new pattern” guidons during the American Civil War, most of these would be of the 35 star pattern contracted for after W VA’s admission into the Union on 20 June 1863, and only 2,620 of these were purchased before the admission of that state, and accordingly bear only 34 stars. Most of these “mid-war” issued guidons show the considerable wear of field use. CONDITION: For a silk “Model of 1862” guidon, this flag is in remarkably good condition with the lower point of the swallowtail intact and only minor wear to the upper point. At some point in its career, however, this guidon fell into a fire while furled around its staff. The result is that four matching burn holes appear through the canton and the two stripes below it across the length of the flag at this point. No information is available as to what occasioned this burning or when it occurred. 4-59026 HMM (8,000-12,000)

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
	829	$9,775.00	MODEL OF 1862 (34 STARS) U.S. “STARS & STRIPES” CAVALRY GUIDON. Regulation “Stars & Stripes” (“New Pattern”), Model of 1862 (34 star) company guidon for cavalry and light artillery. From 1833 through 1861, the guidons used to guide the movements of dragoon, mounted rifle, and cavalry companies as well as those of “light” (field) artillery batteries was a relatively simple design. Except for markings, these small (27″ hoist by 41″ fly) company flags were alike and consisted of two horizontal bars, red over white, cut swallow tailed, with the cut of the swallowtail centered 27″ from the hoist edge. Supposedly, because these flags resembled the Confederate national flag (the “Stars & Bars”), on 7 Jan. 1862, the Secretary of War issued a directive that henceforth the design of the guidons of cavalry and light artillery would conform to the current U.S. national flag, the “Stars & Stripes”, while overall dimensions and shape were to remain as before. (In fact, when the existing stock of red over white guidons were altered by Philadelphia contractors, the cut of the swallowtail was made considerably deeper, usually between 16″ and 19″ from the staff). This “Stars & Stripes” guidon conforms to the “new pattern”. It’s exterior dimensions, 25-3/4″ on the hoist by 38-3/4″ on the fly, fall within the acceptable tolerances permitted by the Army’s quartermaster inspectors, and the distance from the hoist to the cut of the swallowtail is 18-1/8″. The field of the guidon consists of 13 horizontal alternating red and white silk stripes, commencing and ending with a red stripe, each approximately 2″ wide. A dark blue silk canton, 14-1/8″ high on the hoist by 15-1/8″ (the latter including the 1-7/8″ wide sleeve for the staff) is inset into the upper, staff corner, extending down through seven stripes. This canton bears on each of its sides 34 gold painted, 5-pointed stars, each 1-1/4″ across their points. 30 of the stars are set in two concentric elliptical rings. The inner ring bears 12 stars and the outer ring 18; one additional star graces each corner of the canton to bring the total to the number of states in the Union between Jan. of 1861 and June of 1863. Although the U.S. Army Quartermaster Department would contract (through a dozen firms) for no fewer than 7,856 of the “new pattern” guidons during the American Civil War, most of these would be of the 35 star pattern contracted for after W VA’s admission into the Union on 20 June 1863, and only 2,620 of these were purchased before the admission of that state, and accordingly bear only 34 stars. Most of these “mid-war” issued guidons show the considerable wear of field use. CONDITION: For a silk “Model of 1862” guidon, this flag is in remarkably good condition with the lower point of the swallowtail intact and only minor wear to the upper point. At some point in its career, however, this guidon fell into a fire while furled around its staff. The result is that four matching burn holes appear through the canton and the two stripes below it across the length of the flag at this point. No information is available as to what occasioned this burning or when it occurred. 4-59026 HMM (8,000-12,000) 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.

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