U.S. 33 Star Flag - Oregon.

Sub-collection: Mastai - Early American Flags

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Main Description

U.S. 33 Star Flag - Oregon.
Although both the Navy and the Army regulations in force at the end of the 1850s specified that the canton in the Stars and Stripes was to extend down through the seventh stripe (counting from the top of the flag), nothing in any of the flag enactments of the era specifically indicated the relative proportions of the union to the overall flag. Not surprisingly, therefore, a number of flag makers interpreted the lack of specificity as a license to follow their own whims regarding the size and proportions of the canton.

In this flag the canton extends through the top six stripes only, rather than the traditional seven. A claim made in 1880 indicated that ships ensigns manufactured in the Gosport Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, during the second quarter of the 19th century were all made with cantons that were only six stripes deep. However, the earliest specifications concerning U.S. Navy flags and ensigns clearly state that the canton was to extend through seven stripes (i.e. to be 7/13ths the width of the flag) and later Navy Regulations further specified that the length of the canton was to be 4/10ths the overall length of the flag. To explain the six-stripe canton depth, a hypothesis evolved that any flag made with the canton resting on a red stripe indicated its manufacture during a period of war. Neither documentary nor inductive evidence supports this myth.

Exhibition History:

First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0610)
33-Star United States Flag

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 GALLERY III
(ZFC0610)
33-Star United States Flag

Provenance:
â€¢ Acquired by Mr. & Mrs. Boleslaw & Marie-Louise D'Otrange Mastai, New York City, and Amagansett, NY, The Mastai Collection, until 2002.
â€¢ Sold via Sotheby's Auction in New York City to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 2002.

ZFC Important Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:

33 Star Flag - (1859-1861) (U.S.), Flags of the World, 27 May 2012, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-1859.html

Pierce, J. Richard, The Stars and Stripes: Fabric of the American Spirit, J. Richard Pierce, LLC., Whitehouse Station, 2005.

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Measurements

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	34.75
Length of Fly	49.25

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	6-6-7-7-7 horizontal rows

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	41.5
Frame Length	56.5

Attributes

Stars
Number of Stars	33
How are the stars embeded?	Sewn
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes

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

Properties

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Bunting

Attachment
Method of Attachment	Grommets

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation

Documentation
Public Copy & Signs

Information

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	flag is used, worn and contains moth.
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1859-1861

Exhibits & Publication

Exhibits
Exhibition Copy	First Predidio Exhibit (ZFC0610) 33-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG Date: 1859-1861 Media: Wool bunting and cotton stars; all hand-sewn Comment: Although both the Navy and the Army regulations in force at the end of the 1850s specified that the canton in the Stars and Stripes was to extend down through the seventh stripe (counting from the top of the flag), nothing in any of the flag enactments of the era specifically indicated the relative proportions of the union to the overall flag. Not surprisingly, therefore, a number of flag makers interpreted the lack of specificity as a license to follow their own whims regarding the size and proportions of the canton. In this flag the canton extends through the top six stripes only, rather than the traditional seven. A claim made in 1880 indicated that ships ensigns manufactured in the Gosport Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, during the second quarter of the 19th century were all made with cantons that were only six stripes deep. However, the earliest specifications concerning U.S. Navy flags and ensigns clearly state that the canton was to extend through seven stripes (i.e. to be 7/13ths the width of the flag) and later Navy Regulations further specified that the length of the canton was to be 4/10ths the overall length of the flag. To explain the six-stripe canton depth, a hypothesis evolved that any flag made with the canton resting on a red stripe indicated its manufacture during a period of war. Neither documentary nor inductive evidence supports this myth. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0610) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection of New York City through auction at Sothebys. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 GALLERY III (ZFC0610) 33-Star United States Flag Date: 18591861 33 Stars: July 4, 1859-July 3, 1861 (Oregon statehood February 14, 1859) Media: Wool bunting and cotton stars; all hand-sewn Comment: Although both the Navy and the Army regulations in force at the end of the 1850s specified that the canton in the Stars and Stripes was to extend down through the seventh stripe (counting from the top of the flag), nothing in any of the flag enactments of the era specifically indicated the relative proportions of the union to the overall flag. Not surprisingly, therefore, a number of flag makers interpreted the lack of specificity as a license to follow their own whims regarding the size and proportions of the canton. In this flag the canton extends through the top six stripes only, rather than the traditional seven. A claim made in 1880 indicated that ships ensigns manufactured in the Gosport Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, during the second quarter of the 19th century were all made with cantons that were only six stripes deep. However, the earliest specifications concerning U.S. Navy flags and ensigns clearly state that the canton was to extend through seven stripes (i.e. to be 7/13ths the width of the flag) and later Navy regulations further specified that the length of the canton was to be 4/10ths the overall length of the flag. To explain the six-stripe canton depth, a hypothesis evolved that any flag made with the canton resting on a red stripe indicated its manufacture during a period of war. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0610) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sothebys of New York City.

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

First Predidio Exhibit
(ZFC0610)
33-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG
Date: 1859-1861
Media: Wool bunting and cotton stars; all hand-sewn
Comment: Although both the Navy and the Army regulations in force at the end of the 1850s specified that the canton in the Stars and Stripes was to extend down through the seventh stripe (counting from the top of the flag), nothing in any of the flag enactments of the era specifically indicated the relative proportions of the union to the overall flag. Not surprisingly, therefore, a number of flag makers interpreted the lack of specificity as a license to follow their own whims regarding the size and proportions of the canton. In this flag the canton extends through the top six stripes only, rather than the traditional seven. A claim made in 1880 indicated that ships ensigns manufactured in the Gosport Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, during the second quarter of the 19th century were all made with cantons that were only six stripes deep. However, the earliest specifications concerning U.S. Navy flags and ensigns clearly state that the canton was to extend through seven stripes (i.e. to be 7/13ths the width of the flag) and later Navy Regulations further specified that the length of the canton was to be 4/10ths the overall length of the flag. To explain the six-stripe canton depth, a hypothesis evolved that any flag made with the canton resting on a red stripe indicated its manufacture during a period of war. Neither documentary nor inductive evidence supports this myth.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0610) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection of New York City through auction at Sothebys.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 GALLERY III
(ZFC0610)
33-Star United States Flag
Date: 18591861 33 Stars: July 4, 1859-July 3, 1861 (Oregon statehood February 14, 1859)
Media: Wool bunting and cotton stars; all hand-sewn
Comment: Although both the Navy and the Army regulations in force at the end of the 1850s specified that the canton in the Stars and Stripes was to extend down through the seventh stripe (counting from the top of the flag), nothing in any of the flag enactments of the era specifically indicated the relative proportions of the union to the overall flag. Not surprisingly, therefore, a number of flag makers interpreted the lack of specificity as a license to follow their own whims regarding the size and proportions of the canton. In this flag the canton extends through the top six stripes only, rather than the traditional seven. A claim made in 1880 indicated that ships ensigns manufactured in the Gosport Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia, during the second quarter of the 19th century were all made with cantons that were only six stripes deep. However, the earliest specifications concerning U.S. Navy flags and ensigns clearly state that the canton was to extend through seven stripes (i.e. to be 7/13ths the width of the flag) and later Navy regulations further specified that the length of the canton was to be 4/10ths the overall length of the flag. To explain the six-stripe canton depth, a hypothesis evolved that any flag made with the canton resting on a red stripe indicated its manufacture during a period of war.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0610) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sothebys of New York City.