38 Star Flag-Indian War

38 Star American National Flag, Indian War,
Colorado Statehood 1865-1899 ca.

Flag size (HxL) 12”x24”; Canton 6 ¾x 10 ½”
Frame size (HxL)17 ½”x 29 ¼”

Rare example of a Thirty-Eight Star American Flag made of wool-flax blend, double bunting fabric, with a heavy cotton sleeve/hoist attached by treadle sewing. The colors on the stripes were fabricated using a press-dyed process that produced the vivid dark red and blue colors, stars were printed on the dark blue canton in a folksy manner in rows of 8-7-8-7-8.  Provenance taped to the back of the original backer board states that the flag was found above an attic window in Arlington VA.

The flag was likely constructed and used for military application based on; opting to use wool fabric- typically the preferred fabric chosen for its ability to shed water and its strength for outdoor use, the elongated length of both the flag and canton, the fly was treadle sewn, and the hoist/sleeve made in a cotton-flax fabric designed with a 1” extra wide width. Condition: Good for its period and use; tattering along the length of the bottom two stripes, some fading and material loss throughout, hoist/sleeve has some material loss and separation on the bottom. Mounting: pressure mounted on pre-washed 100% cotton black fabric covering an acid-free backer board, encased in UV protected glass, vintage oak frame finished in black with antique gold trim.

Colorado received its Statehood on August 1, 1876, when Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation admitting Colorado to the Union as the 38th State. The Nation celebrated its 100-year anniversary of independence on July 4th that year and although the official star count at that time was 37 many flag makers were already making the 38-Star flag.

 

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Item: 38-Indian War - Centenial