Rare U.S. 22 Star Flag 1819-1820 Converted to a 26 Star Flag.
This U.S. 22 Star Flag was converted to a 26 star flag to represent the new state of Michigan as our 26th State. This handmade wool flag is one of the uncommon of U.S. Flags, a 22 star flag. There was never an official 22 star flag in history. Alabama the 22nd state entered the Union on 14 December 1819 followed quickly by Maine as the 23rd state on 15 March 1820 making then next official flag the 23 star flag.

The few 22 star flags that were made were during the three months and a day period between the admission of Alabama and Maine, and few have survived intact. This exemplar started its existence with stars arranged in horizontal rows of 6-5-6-5. Later it was modified by the addition of four more stars for a total of 26, indicating that this flag was used between 1819 and 1837, when the modifications ended, even though the canton contains room for additional stars.

Flags that were converted or upgraded to keep the star count current are representative of the traits of American individualism, ingenuity and thrift - home made flags represented a commitment of time and materials for individual families, and updating them was an economical way to keep them current.

Provenance:
• Sold via Cowan's Auction, Cincinnati, Ohio, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 2010.


ZFC Significant Flag

Sources:


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

Physical Characteristics of Antique Flags, Antique US Flag Assessment Guidelines, Dave Martucci's FLAG PAGES, 9 November 2011, from:
http://www.vexman.net/physical.htm

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection