Obverse
Obverse

Obverse

Reverse

Reverse

Obverse Canton

Obverse Canton

Obverse Detail 1

Obverse Detail 1

Obverse Detail 2

Obverse Detail 2

ZFC0122

Continental Colors, reproduction, 1950s.

Sub-collection: Star Spangled Banner Flag House

Continental Colors, reproduction, 1950s.
This flag is a replica of the first national flag of the U.S. It is often incorrectly referred to as the "Grand Union Flag" although its contemporary name was "the Continental Colors."

The Continental Colors was the first national flag of the United States, although never officially recognized by the 2nd Continental Congress. Its canton bears a union of the crosses of St. George, symbolizing England, and St. Andrew, symbolizing Scotland. This indicated that Americans still professed loyalty to King George until independence was proclaimed in 1776. The field of alternating red and white horizontal stripes, a design possibly borrowed from the flag of the Sons of Liberty, expressed the unity of the 13 colonies seeking redress of their grievances against Parliament.

The Continental Colors is first known to have been raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of 1775 - 1776. However, because its canton bore the Union Jack, the British initially mistook it as a symbol of submission. The Continental Colors served the United States as a naval ensign and as a garrison flag throughout 1776 and at least until September 1777, three months after the Stars and Stripes was adopted. It received the first salute to the American Flag when the ship "Andrea Doria" was honored by Dutch authorities in the Caribbean in November 1776.



Hoist & Fly

Width of Hoist 105
Length of Fly 54.5

Union/Canton

Width of Union/Canton 38
Length of Union/Canton 33.5

Stripes

Width of 1st Stripe 4
Width of 3rd Stripe 4
Width of 8th Stripe 4
Width of Last Stripe 4.5
Size of Hoist 2

Frame

Is it framed? no

Stars

Are there stars on obverse? no
Are there stars on reverse? no

Stripes

Number of Stripes 13
Color of Top Stripe Red
Color of Bottom Stripe Red
Has a Blood Stripe? yes

Nationality

Nation Represented United States

Fabric

Fabric Cotton

Stitching

Stitching Machine

Thread

Thread Material Cotton

Attachment

Method of Attachment Grommets

Documentation

Documents


Drawings
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Public Copy & Signs
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition

Condition Excellent
Displayable yes