U.S. 13 Star Flag - Single Ring with Center Star.

13 Star U.S. Flag - Revolutionary & Early Federal Period.
The majority of Americans know the so-called Betsy Ross flag - a US flag that features 13 stars that have been arranged into a circle with no stars inside the actual circle. The Betsy Ross flag is known for being the first ever United States flag with origins that back to 1777, but its full history has never been documented. It was only in the 1870s that the family of Betsy Ross began to promote the Betsy Ross story.
Collectors have found various examples of the same design which also feature a starless circle. History proves, however, that there are no period flags that have survived with the same design and that the earliest flag with 13 stars which also bears no stars in the circle is from the centennial period. The first canvas image features 1782 as a date and not 1777. This means that it is likely that the first 18th century flags had a single circle with a star in its center much like this example.

In fact, every period 13-star flag in the ZFC collection that is either circular or oblong in design has one (ZFC0715 & ZFC1495) or four stars (ZFC0624) and it is worth emphasising that none of them are starless in the center. In addition, the Tarlton Grand Division flag, reputed to be a predecessor to the stars and stripes, has a canton with 13 stars on silk (no stripes) that recently sold at auction in 2006 and it has three stars within a circle. There were other patterns used for flags that had 13 stars besides the circle. The ones in the ZFC collection hint at a variety of patterns used for making period 13-star flags.

Historians and flag enthusiasts have searched for the reason that such a design was developed and what the pattern symbolizes. One reason recently put forward to the ZFC is a story that it represented early sentiments of national unity which accompanied the debate and vote in 1776 for the Declaration of Independence. Historians have noted that it was extremely important for the declaration of independence to be supported unanimously to inform the English, and especially King George III, of America's unity and determination. But there was a problem; as the issue of independence was being debated in Philadelphia, New York was facing imminent invasion by 30,000 British and Hessian troops. The New York delegates, though in support of the Declaration, were also concerned that if they voted yes that the invasion and occupation of New York would be especially harsh. Whilst the other delegates were sympathetic to the situation, the New York delegates found themselves in disagreement as preparations were made for the vote. The question was: what could be done to maintain unity while supporting New York during this critical period?

As the role was called, the other delegates anxiously waited for New York's vote, which many anticipated to be 'no', thus diluting this critical act of defiance. To every delegate's relief and surprise, however, New York voted to abstain. The delegates understood that unity was not threatened by the vote and the momentum of of the colonys'defiance was preserved. As a result, all of the delegates were satisfied and vowed to support and protect New York to the end.

The design of this flag, with 12 stars in a circle and one larger star in the middle, thus grew to symbolize not only New York but any and all states heeding the nascent unity of "these United States." In the ZFC, we have three original 13-star flags with the larger star in the middle of a circle (ZFC0715 & ZFC1495) and a 13-star flag in a horizontal pattern with the larger star in the middle of the second row (ZFC2497) again surrounded or grouped together offering support or protection to the single star (symbolizing a state). In addition, there is a period 13-star flag with 13 stars in a circle and an eagle in the center of the circle which is bigger than the stars and heralds an early design of the Coat of Arms of the United States of America (ZFC2407). The point is that all of the 13-star flags in the ZFC have at least something in the center of the circle. There was something about empty space that Americans liked to fill in!

It is from such a story that the early American flags that were widely used in other patterns feature a large star standing in the middle of a circle of 12 stars and a larger single star that is protected by the circle of 12 smaller stars (states). The pattern of this very flag exists on surviving period flags and paintings and in particular a flag carried in the constitution parade of 1788 celebrating the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. The 12/1 pattern, as it was named by the ZFC, can also be seen in a near-period drawing (1812) called "The Life of Washington" showing George Washington in a camp at Yorktown where the flag is of a horizontal pattern with the large star in the middle of the grouping of smaller stars. The flag is positioned behind General Washington standing in front of his famous tent.

Collectors have collected flags from the last quarter of the 18th century and much of the 19th century that show a large star surrounded by smaller stars, even when more states were added in various patterns, in particular in a circle or oblong design, horizontal and Great Star patterns. These examples and stories may be the key to unlocking one of the more sought after mysteries that historians and collectors of historical American flags have been attempting to resolve for decades because the reason for the existence of the larger star was previously lost somewhere in the past. There are examples that suggest other theories but they all post date the 17-star flags and thus do not cover the entire history of the larger star. Only the story of the debate and vote of the Declaration of Independence July 2, 1776 covers the entire period of the early flags of the United States.

This small, handmade 13-star flag's early history was likely one of the first of the 13-star flags that were used by civilians as early as the late 1770s. This type of use is indicated by its much smaller size as there were few official requirements for a flag of this size. Most 13-star flags were much larger for functional reasons. It is believed that ZFC0715 is the only known one of this pattern to exist in a private collection. The only other examples that have survived, with this one exception in the ZFC, are in three public institutions. Also, this size indicates private or civilian use with very limited official use by the government. ZFC believes it was likely made in Philadelphia and was not exclusively for private use.

This flag was once a part of the highly acclaimed collection that belonged to famous antique dealer Mr. Boleslaw Mastai and his wife Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai. The Mastai collection came about after 50 years of intense study, research and preservation by the now deceased husband and wife team. Mastai originally began collecting at the beginning of the 20th century and managed to create one of the biggest collections of flags in America. Mastai's noted book, The Stars and The Stripes: The American Flag from Birth of the Republic to the Present (New York: Alfred Knopf, 1973) is considered to boast important information about the history of the American flag.

The material of this flag was hand spun and the actual flag itself was hand-sewn with wool bunting and the cotton stars that were stitched with cotton and linen threads were made complete with a pure linen heading. One of the most famous flags with the stars in this same pattern is the so-called Cowpens Flag, which is a flag that was attributed to the 3rd Maryland Regiment at the Battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781. The original is now at the State House in Annapolis, Maryland, and while the exact details of that flag remain unresolved, the flag's notoriety has caused other flags with this star pattern to be styled as "Cowpens Flags".

Historical Note: It was not until the Mexican American War in 1845 that the stars and stripes were first sanctioned by the military to use in the "field" (in military maneuvers and battle). However, in the Revolution period there were very few regulations strictly governing the use of flags and it is documented that most flags in the "field" were not stars and stripes and the Cowpens flag was an exception to the normal practice.

Through the revolution in 1776, the Quais War with France in 1798, The Tripoli War, and the war of 1812, the Navy and Privateers used the stars and stripes in battle and in naval engagements. During the American Revolution, a great variety of flag designs were used although many if not most were not stars and stripes. They were: Don't Tread on Me, All Stripes, Continental Colors and even more flags that dated beyond 1777. The stars and stripes pattern tended to be 5,4,5 star configurations and although it is said it was a revolution pattern, the 3,2,3,2,3 pattern had very few documented examples in flags and renderings on canvas.

In fact, all of these patterns almost have no surviving flags with the exception of the few in the Zaricor Flag Collection (see "Heart of the Collection" - Original 13 Star Flags Landing).

Exhibition History:

Private Showing
11 November 2008
Tiger 21 Meeting, Muir Room
Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco, CA

Private Showing
Night of Flags
In celebration of George Washington's Birthday
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in California
Patriotic Services Committee
James Ferrigan, Curator, Flag Center
Ben Zaricor, Director, Flag Center
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Octagon House, San Francisco
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

University of California - Santa Cruz
Board of Councilors Meeting, Rare Flags Exhibit
Santa Cruz, CA
7 June 2012

Publication History
Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, The Stars and The Stripes: The American Flag as Art and as History from the Birth of the republic to the Present, Knopf, New York, 1973. p. Frontispiece, 42 & 44.

Time Magazine, Volume 116, No.1,7 July 1980, Front Cover.

Provenance:
• Anonymous Collector(s).
• Acquired by Mr. & Mrs. Boleslaw & Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai, The Mastai Collection, until 2002.
• Sold via Sotheby's Auction in New York City to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 2002.


ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:

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

Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, The Stars and The Stripes: The American Flag as Art and as History from the Birth of the republic to the Present, Knopf, New York, 1973

Goody, Rabbit, ZFC0715 Analysis Notes, examination and research for Ben Zaricor, April 2009, Zaricor Flag Collection Archives

Pewterers' Banner, Museum Collections, The New-York Historical Society Museum, 24 October 2011, from: http://www.nyhistory.org/node/31856

American Flag (Old Porter House Flag), Museum Collections, The New-York Historical Society Museum, 24 October 2011, from: http://www.nyhistory.org/node/12429

Cowpens flag, Wikipedia, 24 October 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowpens_flag

MARYLAND MANUAL 687 , BATTLE FLAGS OF MARYLAND , Archives of Maryland Online, 24 October 2011, from: http://aomol.net/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000159/html/am159--587.html

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Image of United States 13 Star Flag, Time Magazine, Volume 116, No.1, Cover.

Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, The Stars and The Stripes: The American Flag as Art and as History from the Birth of the republic to the Present, Knopf, New York, 1973

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	21
Length of Fly	25

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	11
Length of Union/Canton	10.5

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	Twelve Stars are in a circle average 2" across. Central Star is 2.5 inches.
Size of Stars	2

Stripes
Width of 1st Stripe	1.75
Width of 3rd Stripe	1.75
Width of 8th Stripe	1.25
Width of Last Stripe	2
Size of Hoist	1

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	28.25
Frame Length	33.5

Stars
Number of Stars	13
How are the stars embeded?	Single Applique
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes
Comments on Stars	Single ring of 12 with larger center star
Star Field Design	Single Ring with Center Star

Stripes
Number of Stripes	13
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no
Comments on Stripes	Stripes are wool

Crest/Emblem
Description of Crest/Emblem	Single ring with center star

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Fabric is hand spun, hand loomed wool. Header is cotton warp with hemp fill; this has been previously seen associated with maritime use. Bunting

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Thread
Type of Thread	2 Ply
Thread Material	Linen
Comments on Thread Material	Stripes are sewn with linen.
Field Thread	Hand Spun

Weave
Type of Weave	Plain

Attachment
Comments on Method of Attachmen	Three red worsted twill tape ties are hand woven
Method of Attachment	Ties

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents	13 star flag on USS Constitution
Research Documents
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used, worn with severe deficits; many holes with fabric loss.
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1788

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

University of California - Santa Cruz Board of Councilors Meeting, 7 June 2012 Rare Flags Exhibit Santa Cruz, CA, June 7, 2012: The Zaricor Flag Collection exhibited 34 flags and artifacts at the University of California Santa Cruz Campus for the Board of Councilors Meeting. 13 Star United States Flag - The "True Betsy Ross Flag" Date: circa 1780 Medium: Hand loomed wool bunting, with hand sewn cotton stars, cotton and hemp heading, with red worsted twill ties, hand sewn linen and cotton threads. Comment: 13 Star U.S. Flag - "The True Betsy Ross Flag" - This single ring with larger center star flag dates from the American Revolution. Americans are familiar with the so-called Betsy Ross pattern, often depicted as a flag with a single ring of 13 stars with a void in the center. The single ring of 13 stars flag is mythologicaly accepted as the first U.S. flag dated 1777 conceived by Betsy Ross. This has never been documented, and no flag with this design is known to have existed. Only a single period image of such a design dates to 1782 and it is an artist's interpretation. Based on surviving examples, it is clear that a single ring of 12 stars around a center star was the design crafted in the late 1770s and 1780s, not just by Mrs. Ross, but throughout the American Colonies. A void in the center of a ring of stars, as a design element, was anathema to 18th century flag designers, and all surviving period examples contain something - a star, an eagle, a monogram or other device - within the ring, like this example. There are a number of examples that have survived, leaving evidence of what the earliest flags looked like. They are all an oblong circle with some device in the middle if they are not of straight horizontal row patterns. This flag, a well worn 18th century example, was thought to be such a flag by Boleslaw Mastai, who used it for the frontispiece of his land mark book, The Stars and Stripes, and selected it for the cover of Time magazine in July 1980. Textile analysis and other datable surviving flags with a circle of stars with a single star in the middle confirm its use in the 1780s. Provenance: Acquired at auction by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0715) in 2002 from the Boleslaw and Marie Louise D'Otrange Mastai Estate via Sotheby's Auctions, New York, New York. www.FlagCollection.com

Publications
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