45 Star Flag Ensign

45 Star Antique American Ensign Flag
Staggered Pattern | Grand Size
Utah Statehood 1896-1908

 

Flag size (HxL) 60 ½”x 112”

45 Star American National Ensign flag displays double appliquéd cotton stars arranged on the canton in a staggered pattern. The impressive large-scale wool flag is an outstanding example of an 1896-1908 Ensign flag that size suggests it may have been flown on a large naval ship or carrier. The hoist exhibits an original handwritten script used with a dip pen to inscribe- 3yd Ensign. Johnson Bros. Bath. Me., and penciled to the right of that is the name of an owner  -W.L. Lincoln W.L.L. and 3y.

The territory named Utah was accepted into the Union as the 45th State January 4, 1896 and remained the official star count until 1908. In 1847 many pioneers that settled in the valley of the Great Salt Lake region were Mormons who originated from settlements farther east. Although the territory applied for statehood throughout a 40-year period, congress refused the applications for statehood time and time again due to the open tolerance of polygamy exerted from the Utah authorities and Mormon churches governing their religion- a practice that was thought of as controversial by much of the nation. The church renounced polygamy in 1890 and the objections were lifted but it wasn’t until 1896 that Utah would join the Union as the 45th State. Presidents to serve under this flag were Grover Cleveland 1893-1897, William McKinley 1897-1901 and Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909.

Description: Grand-size Ensign flag in excellent condition; canton and stripes are made of wool, colors are bold; double appliqued cotton stars attached with lock stitching; cotton hoist has a hand written script used with a dip pen to inscribe- 3yd Ensign. Johnson Bros. Bath. Me. ; slight staining and mothing throughout; fly bottom right has some slight material loss and hand-sewn fabric repair and a few hand-sewn repairs on stripes

Email: jtfrancis.com@gmail.com

Item: 13-718-133