ZFC Item Section - U.S. Continental Colors Flag Replica.

Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Exhibition Copy	Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0082) "CONTINENTAL COLORS" OR "GRAND UNION" FLAG, REPLICA Date: First quarter of the twentieth century Medium: Cotton (actually rayon); machine stitched Comment: It is thought that this reproduction of the "Continental Colors", also called the "Grand Union" flag, was made for either the centennial celebration of the 1814 battle of Fort McHenry or for the sesquicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1926. The "Continental Colors" is considered to be the first flag representing the United States. Its canton (the upper, hoist quarter of the flag) bears the "union" of the crosses of St. George (symbolizing England) and St. Andrew (symbolizing Scotland), set on a field of alternating red and white horizontal stripes. First raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of 1775-1776, the flag was displayed as a symbol of united continental defiance to Parliamentary rule. However, because its canton bore the British "union", it was initially mistaken as a symbol of continental submission! The "Continental Colors" served the United States as a naval ensign and as a garrison flag for all of 1776 and through the first half of 1777, until the "Stars & Stripes" were adopted. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0082) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. Second Presidio Exhibit ZFC0082 "Continental Colors", Replica Date: First quarter, 20th century Medium: Cotton (actually rayon); machine-stitched Comment: The Continental Colors was the first national flag of the United States, although never officially recognized as such by Congress. Its canton-the upper hoist quarter of the flag-bears a union of the crosses of St. George, symbolizing England, and St. Andrew, symbolizing Scotland. This indicated that Americans still professed loyalty to King George until independence was proclaimed in 1776. The field of alternating red and white horizontal stripes, a design possibly borrowed from the flag of the Sons of Liberty, expressed the unity of the 13 colonies seeking redress of their grievances against Parliament. The Continental Colors is first known to have been raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of 1775-1776. However, because its canton bore the Union Jack, it was initially mistaken by the British as a symbol of submission! The Continental Colors served the United States as a naval ensign and as a garrison flag throughout 1776 and at least until September 1777, three months after the Stars and Stripes was adopted. It received the first salute to the American flag when the ship Andrea Doria was honored by Dutch authorities in the Caribbean in November 1776. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0082) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Exhibits

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

Exhibition History
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0082)
"CONTINENTAL COLORS" OR "GRAND UNION" FLAG, REPLICA

Date: First quarter of the twentieth century

Medium: Cotton (actually rayon); machine stitched

Comment: It is thought that this reproduction of the "Continental Colors", also called the "Grand Union" flag, was made for either the centennial celebration of the 1814 battle of Fort McHenry or for the sesquicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1926. The "Continental Colors" is considered to be the first flag representing the United States. Its canton (the upper, hoist quarter of the flag) bears the "union" of the crosses of St. George (symbolizing England) and St. Andrew (symbolizing Scotland), set on a field of alternating red and white horizontal stripes. First raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of 1775-1776, the flag was displayed as a symbol of united continental defiance to Parliamentary rule. However, because its canton bore the British "union", it was initially mistaken as a symbol of continental submission! The "Continental Colors" served the United States as a naval ensign and as a garrison flag for all of 1776 and through the first half of 1777, until the "Stars & Stripes" were adopted.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0082) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Second Presidio Exhibit
ZFC0082
"Continental Colors", Replica
Date: First quarter, 20th century

Medium: Cotton (actually rayon); machine-stitched

Comment: The Continental Colors was the first national flag of the United States, although never officially recognized as such by Congress. Its canton-the upper hoist quarter of the flag-bears a union of the crosses of St. George, symbolizing England, and St. Andrew, symbolizing Scotland. This indicated that Americans still professed loyalty to King George until independence was proclaimed in 1776. The field of alternating red and white horizontal stripes, a design possibly borrowed from the flag of the Sons of Liberty, expressed the unity of the 13 colonies seeking redress of their grievances against Parliament. The Continental Colors is first known to have been raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of 1775-1776. However, because its canton bore the Union Jack, it was initially mistaken by the British as a symbol of submission! The Continental Colors served the United States as a naval ensign and as a garrison flag throughout 1776 and at least until September 1777, three months after the Stars and Stripes was adopted. It received the first salute to the American flag when the ship Andrea Doria was honored by Dutch authorities in the Caribbean in November 1776.

Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0082) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.
Publication Copy	Publication History: Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p.10 "The Continental Colors The Continental Colors was the first national flag of the United States, although never officially recognized by the 2nd Continental Congress. Its canton- the upper hoist quarter of the flag-bears a union of the crosses of St. George, symbolizing England, and St. Andrew, symbolizing Scotland. This indicated that Americans still professed loyalty to King George until independence was proclaimed in 1776. The field of alternating red and white horizontal stripes, a design possibly borrowed from the flag of the Sons of Liberty, expressed the unity of the 13 colonies seeking redress of their grievances against Parliament. The Continental Colors is first known to have been raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of 1775-1776. However, because its canton bore the Union Jack, it was initially mistaken by the British as a symbol of submission! The Continental Colors served the United States as a naval ensign and as a garrison flag throughout 1776 and at least until September 1777, three months after the Stars & Stripes was adopted. It received the first salute to the American flag when the ship Andrea Doria was honored by Dutch authorities in the Caribbean in November 1776. Date:First quarter, 20th century (replica) Size:24.5" hoist x 36" fly Medium:Rayon; machine-stitched Provenance:Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. ZFC0082"

Publications

Publication Copy

Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p.10

"The Continental Colors

The Continental Colors was the first national flag of
the United States, although never officially recognized
by the 2nd Continental Congress. Its canton-
the upper hoist quarter of the flag-bears a union of
the crosses of St. George, symbolizing England, and
St. Andrew, symbolizing Scotland. This indicated that
Americans still professed loyalty to King George until
independence was proclaimed in 1776. The field of
alternating red and white horizontal stripes, a design
possibly borrowed from the flag of the Sons of Liberty,
expressed the unity of the 13 colonies seeking redress
of their grievances against Parliament.
The Continental Colors is first known to have been
raised during the siege of Boston in the winter of
1775-1776. However, because its canton bore the
Union Jack, it was initially mistaken by the British
as a symbol of submission! The Continental Colors
served the United States as a naval ensign and as
a garrison flag throughout 1776 and at least until
September 1777, three months after the Stars &
Stripes was adopted. It received the first salute to
the American flag when the ship Andrea Doria was
honored by Dutch authorities in the Caribbean in November 1776.

Date:First quarter, 20th century (replica)
Size:24.5" hoist x 36" fly
Medium:Rayon; machine-stitched
Provenance:Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. ZFC0082"