U.S. 33 Star Garrison Flag.

33 Star U.S. Garrison Flag - Handmade.
Oregon's entry into the Union on February 14th, 1859 prompted a rapid obsolescence of the 32-star flag adopted the year before to honor Minnesota's statehood. On July 4th, 1859, the 33-star flag became official. Although the imaginative star arrangement of this flag is similar to the diamond pattern that the U.S. Army began to experiment with in 1845, the flag's size in no way conforms to the size requirements for either the Army garrison flag (20 by 36) or the newly adopted Army storm flag (10 by 20). It is likely, therefore, that this flag belonged to one of the many merchant ships flying under the U.S. colors.

The American Civil War Begins (1859-1861)
In the atmosphere of political turmoil and bloody conflict that followed the Compromise of 1850, the candidate debate was introduced in the 1858 Illinois U.S. Senate campaign. Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln squared off in the now famous debates over the issue of popular sovereignty in the territories seeking admission to the Union as new states. This 33-star diamond pattern flag was in use when Abraham Lincoln, capturing an electoral majority but not the popular vote, won the presidential election of 1860. It is similar to the flag that flew at Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War. The 33-star flag was the first of four star counts (33-36) that flew throughout the Civil War.

American Maritime Flags of the 19th Century
Ships and coastal installations (both governmental and private) require flags that can be identified from great distances. Recognition was achieved during the nineteenth century by providing these vessels and facilities with flags that were especially large. Exhibited here are several American flags related to such vessels or facilities from the period 1818 to 1893. They are all large bunting flags.

Generally speaking, a large flag is one that is too unwieldy to be carried by one person if the flag is attached to a staff meant to be carried by single individual. Until 1854 in the British Army, and until 1895 in the American Army, military colors carried by units on foot were made of silk and measured no more than 6 feet on the staff by 6 feet 6 inches on the fly. Essentially, a flag with an area encompassing slightly more than four square yards of cloth was deemed the maximum size for transport by an individual on a staff. Most of the flags in this exhibit exceed those parameters.

Due to their size, large flags such as these are difficult to display and are seldom sought by collectors. Museums often relegate them to perpetual storage.

Exhibition History:

Baltimore Star Spangled Banner Flag House 3/2004
(ZFC1403)
33-Star United States Flag

Washington University at St. Louis
October, 2004
(ZFC1403)
33-Star United States Flag

Provenance:
• Sold via Cowan's Auction, Cincinnati, Ohio, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1998.


ZFC Important Flag

Sources:

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33 Star Flag - (1859-1861) (U.S.), Flags of the World, 11 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-1859.html

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	97
Length of Fly	147

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	50
Length of Union/Canton	59

Stars
Size of Stars	5.25

Stripes
Width of 1st Stripe	7.5
Width of 3rd Stripe	7.5
Width of 8th Stripe	7
Width of Last Stripe	7.25
Size of Hoist	2.5

Frame
Is it framed?	no

Stars
Number of Stars	33
How are the stars embeded?	Sewn
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes
Comments on Stars	Unique and attractive "diamond" of seven stars, flanked by two rows of three, in the middle of a box of 20.
Star Pattern	Diamond.

Stripes
Number of Stripes	13
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no
Comments on Stripes	Stripes just over 7 1/2" in width

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Bunting

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Weave
Type of Weave	Plain

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Ties on top side of flag. Hand reinforced by whip stitching around split rings With ties
Method of Attachment	Grommets

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Fair
Damage	Several old repairs, and additions, one large reparable separation of stripes.
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	circa 1861

Exhibits
Exhibition Copy	Baltimore Star Spangled Banner Flag House 3/2004 (ZFC1403) 33-Star United States Flag Date: 1859-1861 (Oregon was admitted to statehood on February 14, 1859) Media: Wool bunting field and canton with white cotton stars, all hand sewn. Size: 102" on the hoist by 155" on the fly (8.5' by 13') Comment: Oregon's entry into the Union on February 14th, 1859 prompted a rapid obsolescence of the 32-star flag adopted the year before to honor Minnesota's statehood. On July 4th, 1859, the 33-star flag became official. Although the imaginative star arrangement of this flag is similar to the diamond pattern that the U.S. Army began to experiment with in 1845, the flag's size in no way conforms to the size requirements for either the Army garrison flag (20 by 36) or the newly adopted Army storm flag (10 by 20). It is likely, therefore, that this flag belonged to one of the many merchant ships flying under the U.S. colors. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 through auction at Butterfield & Butterfield of San Francisco, CA. Washington University at St. Louis October, 2004 (ZFC1403) 33-Star United States Flag: The American Civil War Begins (1859-1861) In the atmosphere of political turmoil and bloody conflict that followed the Compromise of 1850, the candidate debate was introduced in the 1858 Illinois U.S. Senate campaign. Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln squared off in the now famous debates over the issue of popular sovereignty in the territories seeking admission to the Union as new states. This 33-star diamond pattern flag was in use when Abraham Lincoln, capturing an electoral majority but not the popular vote, won the presidential election of 1860. It is similar to the flag that flew at Fort Sumter at the outbreak of the Civil War. The 33-star flag was the first of four star counts (33-36) that flew throughout the Civil War.
Exhibition Images	Baltimore Exhibit, 2004 Washington University 2004 Presidential Debate