Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003, Gallery II

20 Star U.S. Navy Boat Flag & Ensign, 1818, former Flayderman Collection This particular design of the national flag was flown for only one year following the admission of Mississippi (1817) and Illinois (1818) into the Union.

U.S. 16 Star Flag - Grand Luminary "Peoples Flag". This is a 16 Star flag in the Grand Luminary pattern, circa 1796-1808. After Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union in 1791 and 1792, Congress approved a 15-star 15-stripe flag in 1795. After that new stars officially recognized no new States until a revised law went into effect in 1818.

17 Star US Flag - Hubbard Family, 1803-1812, former Mastai Collection. Flags bearing 17 stars and 13 stripes were never an official flag of the United States; however numerous surviving examples confirm both their existence and use. This example was made to indicate the admission of Ohio as the 17th state in 1803.

A 26-Star U.S. flag commemorating the addition of Michigan to the Union. This is a 26-Star flag commemorating the addition of Michigan to the Union on January 26, 1837 with stars of various sizes arranged in a tilted "Great Star". This flag is thought to be one of the earliest examples of printed parade flags.

26 Star U.S. Flag, 1837 - 1845, Grand Luminary Political Parade Flag. During the presidential election campaigns of 1840 and 1844 the U.S. flag was integrated into the campaigns. Small silk, Grand Luminary flags, such as this, were freely distributed to political partisans to use at ralleys and parades.

27 Stars U.S. Military Storm Flag - Florida's admission into the Union March 3, 1845. This period example 27 Star United States flag was made to indicate the admission of Florida as the 27th state on March 3, 1845; and would remain accurate until the admission of Texas December 29, 1845, a period of only 9 months, 26 days.

21 Star U.S. "Grand Luminary" Flag, 1818 - 1819, former Norm Flayderman Collection. The 21-star Grand Luminary flag represented the new state of Illinois, admitted in 1818 when James Monroe was president. It was officially in use for only one year, replaced in 1820 when Maine and Alabama joined the Union.

U.S. 28 Star flag made to indicate the admission of Texas as the 28th state to the Union on December 29, 1845. This U.S. 28 Star National Flag in a "Grand Luminary" star pattern; the National Color of the 4th Louisiana Militia, raised in1846, but disband before seeing any combat.

"Flags of the Principle Nations of the World", 1837. This is a chart used by sea captains to identify the nationality of ships encountered at sea. Entitled, "The Flags of the Principal Nations of the World," it was made with printed copper engraving, hand colored, and was published in Philadelphia in 1837.

29 Star U.S. Flag - Political Parade Flag, 1846 - 1848. This flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election, when James K. Polk was replaced by Zachary Taylor before Wisconsin's admission in May of 1848 which made the flag officially obsolete.

30 Star U.S. Flag, 1858 - 1850, 1st U.S. flag to fly over Wilmington, NC 1865. This U.S. flag represents the admission of Wisconsin to the Union. The Compromise of 1820 called for a careful pairing of free and slaves states in order to maintain parity between North and South in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. 31 Stars Flag Commemorating California's Admission into the Union, September 9, 1850. This period example 31 stars U.S. flag was made to indicate the admission of California as the 31st state and would remain accurate until the admission of Minnesota on May 11, 1858, a period of 7 years, 8 months and 2 days.

Civilian Boat Yacht Flag/unusual wool bunting dates it 1920s latest. On exhibit at the Presidio of San Francisco Officers Club January 2003 to December 2003 (Exhibits I and II). Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 GALLERY III (ZFC0338) 13-Star United States Yacht Club Flag [...]

Originally a 32 Star canton converted to a 34 Star U.S. Flag. The construction details of this flag indicate that it began with a 32 Star canton, for Minnesota's admission to the Union. While 32-star flags were official for a year, some manufacturers may have anticipated the 33 Star Oregon flag, as 32 star flags of any type are very scarce.

30 Star Political Parade U.S. national flag. This 30 star version of the U.S. national flag played its role in the presidential campaign of General Taylor in the form of numerous inexpensive small flags, probably made by Annin & Co. of New York, a flag business founded in 1847.