U.S. 47 Star Flag - New Mexico's Statehood.

Sub-collection: Judge John T. Ball courtroom & chambers flag collection

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Main Description

U.S. 47 Star Flag - New Mexico's Statehood.
On January 6, 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state admitted into the Union. No official 47-star flag ever existed, however, because Arizona entered the Union as the 48th state on February 14 of the same year. The official changes to the flag on July 4, 1912 simultaneously recognized both admissions with its total of 48 stars.

Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared 47-star flags, perhaps in anticipation that Arizona's admission would be delayed, as illustrated by this example. At one point it was anticipated that Arizona and New Mexico might enter the Union as a single state. Because they were unofficial and only produced briefly, 47-star flags are quite rare. This flag was made during the presidency of William H. Taft.

Taken from Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p.115

Superior Court Judge John T. Ball, of Santa Clara County, California, acquired this important flag.

Exhibition History:

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0600)
47-Star United States Flag, Unofficial

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(ZFC0600)
47-Star United States Flag, Unofficial

Display/Presentation History:
This flag's image was displayed in the presentation at the 6th Annual Flag Symposium sponsored by The Flag House and Star Spangled Banner Museum, in Baltimore, MD, April 9, 2005. The presentation was made by Howard Madaus on The Other 48s a look at the evolution of the 48 star US Flag and the various star patterns it engendered.

Publication History:

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 115.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0600) in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball of San Jose, CA.

Measurements

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	40
Length of Fly	64

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	41
Frame Length	77

Attributes

Stars
Number of Stars	47
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Documentation

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Information

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used
Displayable	no

Date
Date	1912

Exhibits & Publication

Exhibits
Exhibition Copy	First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0600) 47-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG (UNOFFICIAL) Date: 1912 Media: Wool bunting and cotton; machine sewn Comment: New Mexico became the forty-seventh state to be admitted into the Union on January 6th, 1912. No official forty-seven star, however, was adopted because Arizona entered the Union as the forty-eighth state on February 14th of the same year, and the official change to the new flag on July 4th of 1912 would recognize both admissions with forty-eight stars. Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared forty-seven star flags in anticipation that Arizonas admission would be delayed. Because they are unofficial and only produced briefly, forty-seven star flags are quite rare. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0600) in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball of San Jose, CA. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (ZFC0600) 47-Star United States Flag, Unofficial Date: 1912 47 Stars: Unofficial (New Mexico statehood January 6, 1912) Media: Wool bunting and cotton; machinesewn Comment: On January 6, 1912, New Mexico became the forty-seventh state admitted into the Union. No official forty-seven star flag ever existed, however, because Arizona entered the Union as the forty-eighth state on February 14 of the same year. The official change to the flag on July 4th, 1912, simultaneously recognize both admissions with its total of 48 stars. Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared 47-star flags in anticipation that Arizonas admission would be delayed, as exemplified by this example. Because they were unofficial and only produced briefly, 47-star flags are quite rare. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0600) in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball of San Jose, CA. Display/Presentation History: This flag's image was displayed in the presentation at the 6th Annual Flag Symposium sponsored by The Flag House and Star Spangled Banner Museum, in Baltimore, MD, April 9, 2005. The presentation was made by Howard Madaus on The Other 48s a look at the evolution of the 48 star US Flag and the various star patterns it engendered.

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0600)
47-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG (UNOFFICIAL)
Date: 1912
Media: Wool bunting and cotton; machine sewn
Comment: New Mexico became the forty-seventh state to be admitted into the Union on January 6th, 1912. No official forty-seven star, however, was adopted because Arizona entered the Union as the forty-eighth state on February 14th of the same year, and the official change to the new flag on July 4th of 1912 would recognize both admissions with forty-eight stars. Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared forty-seven star flags in anticipation that Arizonas admission would be delayed. Because they are unofficial and only produced briefly, forty-seven star flags are quite rare.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0600) in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball of San Jose, CA.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(ZFC0600)
47-Star United States Flag, Unofficial
Date: 1912 47 Stars: Unofficial (New Mexico statehood January 6, 1912)
Media: Wool bunting and cotton; machinesewn
Comment: On January 6, 1912, New Mexico became the forty-seventh state admitted into the Union. No official forty-seven star flag ever existed, however, because Arizona entered the Union as the forty-eighth state on February 14 of the same year. The official change to the flag on July 4th, 1912, simultaneously recognize both admissions with its total of 48 stars. Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared 47-star flags in anticipation that Arizonas admission would be delayed, as exemplified by this example. Because they were unofficial and only produced briefly, 47-star flags are quite rare.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0600) in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball of San Jose, CA.

Display/Presentation History:
This flag's image was displayed in the presentation at the 6th Annual Flag Symposium sponsored by The Flag House and Star Spangled Banner Museum, in Baltimore, MD, April 9, 2005. The presentation was made by Howard Madaus on The Other 48s a look at the evolution of the 48 star US Flag and the various star patterns it engendered.

Publications
Publication Copy	Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 115. 47-Star United States Flag Unofficial On January 6, 1912, New Mexico became the forty-seventh state admitted into the Union. No official forty-seven star flag ever existed, however, because Arizona entered the Union as the forty-eighth state on February 14 of the same year. The official changes to the flag on July 4th, 1912, simultaneously recognized both admissions with its total of 48 stars. Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared 47-star flags, perhaps in anticipation that Arizonas admission would be delayed, as illustrated by this example. At one point it was anticipated that Arizona and New Mexico might enter the Union as a single state. Because they were unofficial and only produced briefly, 47-star flags are quite rare. This flag was made during the presidency of William H. Taft. Date:1912 Size: 40" hoist x 64" fly 47 Stars: Unofficial (New Mexico statehood January 6, 1912) Media: Wool bunting and cotton; machine-sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball of San Jose, CA. ZFC0600

Publications

Publication Copy

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 115.

47-Star United States Flag
Unofficial
On January 6, 1912, New Mexico became the forty-seventh state admitted into the Union. No official forty-seven star flag ever existed, however, because Arizona entered the Union as the forty-eighth state on February 14 of the same year. The official changes to
the flag on July 4th, 1912, simultaneously recognized both admissions with its total of 48 stars. Evidently at least one major flag manufacturer had prepared 47-star flags, perhaps in anticipation that Arizonas admission would be delayed, as illustrated by this example. At one point it was anticipated that Arizona and New Mexico might enter the Union as a single state. Because they were unofficial and only produced briefly, 47-star flags are quite rare. This flag was made during the presidency of William H. Taft.
Date:1912
Size: 40" hoist x 64" fly
47 Stars: Unofficial (New Mexico statehood January 6, 1912)
Media: Wool bunting and cotton; machine-sewn
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from the collection of Judge John T. Ball
of San Jose, CA.
ZFC0600

Book Photo

Reverse

Reverse

U.S. 47 Star Flag - New Mexico's Statehood.

Hoist & Fly

Frame

Stars

Stripes

Nationality

Documentation

Condition

Date

Exhibits

Publications