Frame Size (H x L): 18” x 13.25”
Flag Size (H x L): 3.5” x 6” and Affixed to a 10.5” Staff

Offered is a striking 13-star American parade flag printed on loosely woven cotton during the Civil War. The flag’s primitive character is immediately evident in the irregularly shaped and canted stars, its uneven printing, and the distinctive “humped” horizontal weave of the fabric. These features reflect the spontaneous, small-scale production of patriotic flags made for wartime rallies and processions. The result is a rare survivor with tremendous visual texture and authentic period charm.

CONSTRUCTION
Printed by early mechanical means on coarse, open-weave cotton, the flag displays remarkable irregularity in both its structure and design. The horizontal weft strands rise and fall in gentle undulations, creating alternating open windows and compressed bands that catch light in a lively way. Thirteen white stars appear in an irregular medley—some broad, others narrow, many tilted at subtle angles—each slightly different from the next. This freeform arrangement and the inconsistent ink saturation exemplify the folk quality of Civil The colors remain rich for the period, the indigo canton contrasting beautifully with the soft crimson and ivory stripes. The flag is mounted on its original wooden staff.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The use of the 13-star format dates to June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress resolved: “That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.” This pattern represented the original colonies and remained official until 1795, when two stars and two stripes were added for Vermont and Kentucky. Nonetheless, the 13-star configuration never disappeared.

It remained in continuous ceremonial use well into the nineteenth century. The U.S. Navy flew 13-star ensigns on small boats from 1795 through 1916 to maintain clear identification at sea. The design was hoisted at the death of George Washington in 1799, and again during the nation’s semicentennial in 1824, when General Lafayette toured the United States as a living link to the Revolution. Similar flags reappeared during subsequent patriotic moments—the Mexican War (1846–1848), the Civil War (1861–1865), and the Centennial celebrations of 1876—each time symbolizing a return to the founding ideals of the Republic.

This example, with its coarse weave, irregular stars, and early print characteristics, belongs squarely to the Civil War period, when 13-star flags were carried in parades, hung from balconies, and distributed at recruitment drives as expressions of unity and remembrance of the nation’s origins.

Conservation Process: The flag was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the flag, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The flag is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic. 

Frame: This American hand-painted Pennsylvania faux bois frame dates to circa 1840 and features an orange and brown grain-painted surface made to resemble mahogany or rosewood. It retains its original finish with natural patina and light wear from age and use. The broad, flat profile and straightforward craftsmanship reflect the practical yet decorative framing style of the mid-19th century.

Condition Report: The flag remains in excellent overall condition for its age. The colors are vivid and stable, with minor age toning and light oxidation consistent with mid-nineteenth-century printed cotton. Scattered small separations appear along the weave openings, but no significant losses or restoration are present. The staff is original and undisturbed.

Collectability Level: The Great – Perfect for Rising Collectors
Date of Origin: 1861-1865  
Number of Stars: 13
Associated War: The Civil War (1861-1865)  
Associated State: Original 13 Colonies