33 Star U.S. Grand Luminary Flag, 1859 - 1861, former Harry Oswald Collection.
As with the 31-star flag, the stars of the 33-star flag did not allow for an orderly arrangement of rows. The alternative Grand Luminary star arrangement had been advocated four decades earlier as a civilian star pattern for U.S. flags, but it still enjoyed great popularity at the beginning of the Civil War, as this home-made flag demonstrates. While it has been suggested that this may have been an earlier U.S. flag with 31 or 26 stars the slightly smaller stars that fall outside the perimeter of the great star are, in fact, made from the same material as the other stars. This suggests that they were all applied at the same time.
In November of 1860, four parties presented candidates for the presidency. Although Lincoln did not receive the majority of the popular vote and was not even on the ballot in nine southern states, he was elected president with a majority of the electoral votes. This flag possibly served during both the James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln administrations.
This 33 star flag has no hoist reinforcement.
Exhibition History:
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC1155)
33-Star Grand Luminary United States Flag
Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 GALLERY III
(ZFC1155)
33-Star Grand Luminary United States Flag
Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 60.
Provenance:
• Acquired by purchase by Mr. Oswald from unnamed New York militaria dealer in Washington, D.C., 1980s-1990s.
• Gifted to father, Mr. Harry Oswald, Portland, OR, until 1997.
• Purchased by Zaricor Flag collection, 1997.
ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed
Sources:
Hoist & Fly | |
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Width of Hoist | 68 |
Length of Fly | 131 |
Union/Canton | |
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Width of Union/Canton | 35 |
Length of Union/Canton | 43 |
Stars | |
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Size of Stars | 3.75 |
Stripes | |
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Width of 1st Stripe | 5.25 |
Width of 3rd Stripe | 5.25 |
Width of 8th Stripe | 5.25 |
Width of Last Stripe | 5.25 |
Frame | |
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Is it framed? | yes |
Frame Height | 75 |
Frame Length | 147.25 |
Stars | |
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Number of Stars | 33 |
How are the stars embeded? | Sewn |
Are there stars on obverse? | yes |
Are there stars on reverse? | no |
Comments on Stars | While it has been suggested that this may have been an earlier U.S. flag with 31 stars, the slightly smaller stars that fall outside the perimeter of the great star and that seem to have been added later in fact are made from the same material as the other stars. This suggests that they were all applied at the same time. |
Stripes | |
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Number of Stripes | 13 |
Color of Top Stripe | Red |
Color of Bottom Stripe | Red |
Has a Blood Stripe? | no |
Nationality | |
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Nation Represented | United States |
Fabric | |
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Fabric | Cotton |
Stitching | |
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Stitching | Machine |
Comments on Stitching | Machine-stitched with hand-sewn stars |
Thread | |
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Thread Material | Cotton |
Weave | |
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Type of Weave | Tricot |
Attachment | |
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Comments on Method of Attachmen | Rope through header. |
Method of Attachment | Roped-header |
Applica | |
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Applique Sides | Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse |
Documentation | |
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Documents |
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
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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 | |
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Condition | Good |
Damage | Unstitched in some places |
Displayable | yes |
Date | |
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Date | 1859-1861 |
Exhibits | |
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Exhibition Copy | Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC1155) 33-STAR "GRAND LUMINARY" UNITED STATES FLAG Date: 1859-1861 Medium: Cotton; machine stitched with hand-sewn stars Comment: As with the 31-star flag, the stars of the 33-star flag did not allow for an orderly arrangement of rows. The alternative Grand Luminary star arrangement had been advocated four decades earlier as a "civilian" star pattern for U.S. flags, but it still enjoyed great popularity at the beginning of the Civil War, as this home-made flag demonstrates. While it has been suggested that this may have been an earlier U.S. flag with 31 stars, the slightly smaller stars that fall outside the perimeter of the "great star" and that seem to have been added later in fact are made from the same material as the other stars. This suggests that they were all applied at the same time. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1155) in 1997 from Harry Oswald of Portland, OR. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 – GALLERY III (ZFC1155) 33-Star "Grand Luminary" United States Flag Date: 1859–1861 33 Stars: July 4, 1859-July 3, 1861 (Oregon statehood February 14, 1859) Medium: Cotton; machine stitched with hand-sewn stars Comment: As with the 31-star flag, the stars of the 33-star flag did not allow for an orderly arrangement of rows. The alternative "Grand Luminary" star arrangement had been advocated four decades earlier as a "civilian" star pattern for U.S. flags, but it still enjoyed great popularity at the beginning of the Civil War, as this homemade flag demonstrates. While it has been suggested that this may have been an earlier U.S. flag with 31 stars, the slightly smaller stars that fall outside the perimeter of the "great star" and that seem to have been added later in fact are made from the same material as the other stars. This suggests that they were all applied at the same time. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1155) in 1997 from Harry Oswald of Portland, OR. |
Publications | |
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Publication Copy | Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 60. "33-Star "Grand Luminary" United States Flag As with the 31-star flag, the stars of the 33-star flag did not allow for an orderly arrangement of rows. The alternative "Grand Luminary" star arrangement had been advocated four decades earlier as a star pattern for "civil" U.S. flags, but it still enjoyed great popularity at the beginning of the Civil War, as this homemade flag demonstrates. While it has been suggested that this may have been an earlier U.S. flag with 31 stars, the slightly smaller stars that fall outside the perimeter of the "great star" and that seem to have been added later in fact are made from the same material as the other stars. This suggests that they were all applied at the same time. In November of 1860, four parties presented candidates for the presidency. Although he did not receive the majority of the popular vote-and was not even on the ballot in nine southern states-Abraham Lincoln was elected president with a majority of the electoral votes. This flag possibly served during both the James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln administrations. |