13 Star Flag - Ensign

 

CIVIL WAR ERA: 13-STAR SMALL BOAT ENSIGN FLAG, 1862-72

Rare 13 Star Small Naval Boat Ensign Flag, adopted by the US Navy around 1862 during the Civil War. Although the correct number of stars would have been 35 at the time, the Navy chose the simpler 13 Star, 4-5-4 Pattern so that they would not have to change the flag every time a new state was added to the Union. This flag proves rare, as few are found on the market today and especially striking is the unusual linear row placement. The small amounts of flags of this stature typically are known to display hand -sewn stars and canton, using thin wool as in this example. During the War, with the production of thousands of uniforms being made, wool became scarce creating an insufficient amount of wool available for flag making suggesting that flags would probable be repaired onsite whenever possible as likely displayed here. A similar example of this flag can be found in the Zaricor Flag collection.

Description:
Size 47” X 69”; thin wool, machine stitched stripes in vermillion red and naval blue; 13 hand-sewn cotton, peek-a-boo stars arranged in 4-5-4 rows, on an uncommon 3- panel hand-sewn canton; letter W inscribed on the linen hoist that has two short rope hoist ties attached, strengthening panels in upper and lower edge on the hoist.

Condition:
Good for period and usage, fly was repaired by both hand and machine stitching sometime in the mid to late 19th century using available period fabric, a separation of the repaired fabric on the right side of the fly, several small areas of separation of fabric throughout shown in attached pictures.

Provenance:
2 ¼” x 3 ½” manila card originally attached to the flag in pencil notes
Robert Newson of Kittery Maine (1780-1879), Robert E. Newson and M.L. (Mary L) Newson, relating the star count to the first pattern authorized by congress in 1777 and compares the flag to the Ranger, Paul Jones ship.

Email: jtfrancis.com@gmail.com

Item: 13-Ensign-Maine