Obverse

Reverse

Book Photo

Obverse

ZFC1385

U.S. 38 Star Flag, Triple Ring.

Sub-collection: U.S. 38 Star Flags

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Main Description

U.S. 38 Star Flag, Triple Ring.
In 1876, America celebrated its centennial as an independent country. When Colorado attained statehood on August 1 that year, it took on the nickname "the Centennial State." The Stars and Stripes wasn't altered until July 4 the next year, however, in keeping with legal requirements. The new 38-star flag of 1877 flew for 13 years during the administrations of Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. Between the Civil War and the Centennial Observance, quite a number of American flag makers produced flags that symbolized the federal union by arranging the stars in rings of symbolic equality, Since neither the first, second or third Flag Act had specified any particular method of arranging the stars of the "New Constellation", flag makers were free to choose the arrangement that they found most aesthetic.

Thirteen alternating red and white stripes, commencing and ending with red. Thirty-eight stars, each press dyed and 0.75 inches across in a circle pattern, printed on the obverse and reverse sides of the 9 inches x 10.5 inches union/canton. The stars are arranged in a series of three concentric rings around a center star (center, ring of 5, ring of 10, ring of 20) with two added stars, one in each corner of the fly corners of the canton. The flag is attached with a pressed and stapled-in stick.

Comments: Text on pole: "38 stars 17" x 25." "
Text on tag attached to flag: "488" and "B-589." Framed (outside dimensions 23 x 31). This important flag was acquired at a Wesley Cowan Auction 1997. Circa 1876 possible for the centinnel celebration in anticipation of the 38th state Colorado.

Exhibition History
First Presidio Exhibit, 2003

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY V

Publications History

Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.16.

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 94.

Provenance
Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1385) in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH.

ZFC Important Flag
Item is Framed

Measurements

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	17
Length of Fly	25

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	9
Length of Union/Canton	10.5

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	Triple ring
Size of Stars	0.75

Stripes
Width of 1st Stripe	1
Width of 3rd Stripe	1
Width of 8th Stripe	1.5
Width of Last Stripe	1.25

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	23
Frame Length	31

Attributes

Stars
Number of Stars	38
How are the stars embeded?	Printed
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes
Star Field Design	Triple Rings (any)

Stripes
Number of Stripes	13
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Properties

Fabric
Fabric	Cotton

Stitching
Stitching	Machine

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Split-stick staff
Method of Attachment	Wire Stapled

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation

Media PDF

American Spirit Magazine July/August 2003

Documentation

Information

Condition
Condition	Fair
Damage	Trending to good.
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1876-1889

Exhibits & Publication

Exhibits
Exhibition Copy	Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC1385) 38-STAR UNITED STATES PARADE FLAG Date: About 1876-1877 Media: Printed on cotton Comment: In May of 1876, the United States began the official six month celebration of the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. The Civil War was now a decade in the past, and the nation was in a celebratory mood. Flag makers began the centennial celebration by anticipating Colorados admission as the thirty-eighth state and manufactured thirty-eight stars well in advance of the official admission of the Centennial State on August 1st, 1876 (making the thirty-eight star flag not technically official until July 4th, 1877). In printing this small, inexpensive parade or celebratory flag, its manufacturer harked back to the double concentric ring pattern of stars that had been so popular among the Mid-Atlantic flag makers during the Civil War, but arranged the stars in three rings: an inner ring of five around the center star, a ring of ten, and a ring of twenty. Two stars were also added to the two fly corners of the canton to bring the total to thirty-eight. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1385) in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY V (ZFC1385) 38-Star United States Parade Flag Date: About 18761877 38 Stars: July 4, 1877-July 3, 1890 (Colorado statehood August 1, 1876) Medium: Printed cotton Comment: In May 1876 the United States began the official six-month celebration of the centennial of its Declaration of Independence. The travails of the Civil War were receding into the past and the nation was in a celebratory mood. Flag makers hoped to take advantage of the centennial celebrations. They anticipated Colorado's admission as the thirty-eighth state and therefore manufactured 38-star flags well in advance of the official admission of the Centennial State on August 1, 1876. That date meant, however, that the 38-star flag would not become official until July 4th, 1877. In printing of this small inexpensive parade or celebratory flag, the pattern chosen by its manufacturer harked back to the double concentric ring pattern of stars that had been so popular among Mid-Atlantic state flag makers during the Civil War. In this case, however, the stars were arranged in three ringsan inner one of five around the center star, a middle ring of ten, and an outer ring of twenty. Two stars were also added to the fly corners of the canton to bring the total to 38. This probably indicates that a printing block originally used for making 36-star flags was modified by adding two stars, even though it resulted in an asymmetrical pattern. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1385) in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH.

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

Exhibition History
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC1385)
38-STAR UNITED STATES PARADE FLAG
Date: About 1876-1877
Media: Printed on cotton
Comment: In May of 1876, the United States began the official six month celebration of the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. The Civil War was now a decade in the past, and the nation was in a celebratory mood. Flag makers began the centennial celebration by anticipating Colorados admission as the thirty-eighth state and manufactured thirty-eight stars well in advance of the official admission of the Centennial State on August 1st, 1876 (making the thirty-eight star flag not technically official until July 4th, 1877). In printing this small, inexpensive parade or celebratory flag, its manufacturer harked back to the double concentric ring pattern of stars that had been so popular among the Mid-Atlantic flag makers during the Civil War, but arranged the stars in three rings: an inner ring of five around the center star, a ring of ten, and a ring of twenty. Two stars were also added to the two fly corners of the canton to bring the total to thirty-eight.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1385) in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY V
(ZFC1385)
38-Star United States Parade Flag

Date: About 18761877 38 Stars: July 4, 1877-July 3, 1890 (Colorado statehood August 1, 1876)
Medium: Printed cotton
Comment: In May 1876 the United States began the official six-month celebration of the centennial of its Declaration of Independence. The travails of the Civil War were receding into the past and the nation was in a celebratory mood. Flag makers hoped to take advantage of the centennial celebrations. They anticipated Colorado's admission as the thirty-eighth state and therefore manufactured 38-star flags well in advance of the official admission of the Centennial State on August 1, 1876. That date meant, however, that the 38-star flag would not become official until July 4th, 1877. In printing of this small inexpensive parade or celebratory flag, the pattern chosen by its manufacturer harked back to the double concentric ring pattern of stars that had been so popular among Mid-Atlantic state flag makers during the Civil War. In this case, however, the stars were arranged in three ringsan inner one of five around the center star, a middle ring of ten, and an outer ring of twenty. Two stars were also added to the fly corners of the canton to bring the total to 38. This probably indicates that a printing block originally used for making 36-star flags was modified by adding two stars, even though it resulted in an asymmetrical pattern.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1385) in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH.

PDF for Publications

American Spirit Magazine JulyAugust 2003, A Grand Old Obsession

Publications
Publication Copy	Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.16. Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 94. 38-Star United States Economy Flag In May 1876, during Ulysses S. Grants presidency, the United States began the official six-month celebration of the centennial of its Declaration of Independence. The travails of the Civil War were receding into the past and the nation was in a celebratory mood. Flag makers hoped to take advantage of the centennial celebrations. They anticipated Colorados admission as the thirty-eighth state and therefore manufactured 38-star flags well in advance of the official admission of the Centennial State on August 1, 1876. That date meant, however, that the 38- star flag would not become official until July 4th, 1877. In printing this small inexpensive parade or economy flag, the pattern chosen by its manufacturer harked back to the double concentric ring pattern of stars that had been so popular among Mid-Atlantic state flag makers during the Civil War. In this case, however, the stars were arranged in three ringsan inner one of five around the center star, a middle ring of ten, and an outer ring of twenty. Two stars were also added to the fly corners of the canton to bring the total to 38. This probably indicates that a printing block originally used for making 36-star flags was modified by adding two stars, even though it resulted in an asymmetrical pattern. Date: About 1876 1877 Size: 17" hoist x 25" fly 38 Stars: July 4, 1877 July 3, 1890 (Colorado statehood August 1, 1876) Medium: Printed cotton Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH. ZFC1385

Publications

Publication Copy

Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.16.

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 94.

38-Star United States Economy Flag

In May 1876, during Ulysses S. Grants presidency, the United States began the official six-month celebration of the centennial of its Declaration of Independence. The travails of the Civil War were receding into the past and the nation was in a celebratory mood. Flag makers hoped to take advantage of the centennial celebrations. They anticipated
Colorados admission as the thirty-eighth state and therefore manufactured 38-star flags well in advance of the official admission of the Centennial State on August 1, 1876. That date meant, however, that the 38- star flag would not become official until July 4th, 1877.
In printing this small inexpensive parade or economy flag, the pattern chosen by its manufacturer harked back to the double concentric ring pattern of stars that had been so popular among Mid-Atlantic state flag makers during the Civil War. In this case, however, the stars were arranged in three ringsan inner one of five around the center star, a
middle ring of ten, and an outer ring of twenty. Two stars were also added to the fly corners of the canton to bring the total to 38. This probably indicates that a printing block originally used for making 36-star flags was modified by adding two stars, even though it
resulted in an asymmetrical pattern.

Date: About 1876 1877
Size: 17" hoist x 25" fly
38 Stars: July 4, 1877 July 3, 1890 (Colorado statehood August 1, 1876)
Medium: Printed cotton
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1997 from C. Wesley Cowan of Cincinnati, OH.
ZFC1385

Obverse

Reverse

Book Photo

Obverse

U.S. 38 Star Flag, Triple Ring.

Hoist & Fly

Union/Canton

Stars

Stripes

Frame

Stars

Stripes

Nationality

Fabric

Stitching

Attachment

Applica

Documentation

Condition

Date

Exhibits

Publications