45 Star U.S. Flag Conversion from a 42 star flag, 1896.
This Conversion Flag was home-made and machine-sewn on cotton fabric. In the 19th century the United States was a dynamic country with new states joining the Union. Between 1803 and 1896 the United States flag enjoyed 28 different incarnations. To mitigate both extra effort and cost it was common for Americans flag makers, both vernacular and professional, to convert obsolete star counts into current flags by adding stars to the canton. This flag is such an example, gaining it the identification of Conversion Flag. This flag was updated by sewing additional stars to the obverse and reverse.
One interesting feature of this flag is that the stars are positioned differently on either side of the star field. On the obverse the stars were added near the hoist between horizontal rows 1&2, 3&4 and 5&6. On the reverse they appear more crowded, having been placed between rows 2&3, 3&4 and 4&5. The added stars are very similar to the original stars, leading to the speculation that they were made by the same hand, presumably the maker who crafted the 12 small buttonholes for attachment along the twill weave hoist.
Conversion flags are symbolic of American ingenuity and thrift and represent a desirable attribute for collectors. These flag are sometimes also called Updated Flags or Modified Flags.
Provenance: Acquired at auction from Cowan's Auctions, Cincinnati, Ohio, 4-5 Dec. 2008.
ZFC Significant Flag
Sources:
Madaus, Howard M.- Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, VZ Publications, Santa Cruz, 2006. Pp.144-145.
Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection
