U.S. 41 Star Flag - Montana Statehood, 1890-1891.
Montana became the forty-first state to be admitted to the Union on November 8th, 1889. Three days later, however, Washington was also admitted to the Union, becoming the forty-second state. In accordance with the provisions of the Third Flag Act of 1818, neither of these states should have been represented on a U.S. flag until July 4th, 1890. However, a few flag manufacturers, not anticipating the further additions of states after November 8th, produced 41 star U.S. flags. Neither forty-one nor forty-two star flags were technically official, for Idaho was admitted into the Union on July 3rd 1890, just one day before the 42 star U.S. flag would have been official. Hence the "legal" flag effective July 4, 1890 should have borne forty-three stars. That did not prevent the flag makers from selling their stocks of 41 and 42 star U.S. flags, though the forty-one star flags had a very limited market.
Printed on cotton, the field of this important flag is composed of thirteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes, the uppermost and lowest red, with a dark blue canton, printed so as to occupy a rectangle in the upper, hoist corner extending to the top of the eighth stripe from the top. The canton bears a total of forty-one (41) white, 5-pointed press dyed stars, set in nine vertical rows: 5-4-5-4-5-4-5-4-5. This flag was probably affixed to a small stick for waving a patriotic functions.
Provenance:
• Acquired Robert Banks, Baltimore, MD until 1993/94.
• Acquired by John Ball, San Jose, California, 1994.
• Judge John Ball Courtroom & Chambers Collection, until 2002.
• Acquired from the Judge John Ball Courtroom & Chambers Collection via private treaty by Zaricor Flag Collection, 2002.
