Declaration of Independence Commemorative Print.

Declaration of Independence print with the seals of the 13 original states, and vignettes of diverse Presidents.

The Declaration of Independence, the seals of the 13 original states, and vignettes of Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson appear on this commemorative print. There are also images of the Boston Tea Party, the surrender of General Gates at Saratoga, and an American eagle carrying a flag.

The print was made for the fiftieth anniversary of the "Declaration of Independence" in 1826. Around the same time, the nation had learned of the death of two of the Declaration's principal authors, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, on July 4th of that year (1826), thus adding to the significance of this item.

The "Declaration of Independence" was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, and was first read to the public two days later on July 4th, which is now celebrated as America's Independence Day. The despised British Union Jack, the flag which had represented the United Colonies, was replaced on June 14, 1777 by the passage of the "Flag Resolution". The new nation flew a blue canton flag bearing the 13 stars of the United States, and was the result of a political decision made nearly a year earlier.

A similar example of the same print (except that it is in blue and white) is found in the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum and Threads of History by Collins on p. 72. Similar prints are located in the New-York Historical Society in New York City.

Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p.11

Provenance:
• Made in 1824-1828.
• Acquired by Charles H. Aston, San Francisco, CA, until 1914.
• Gifted to de Young Museum, 1914.
• Sold via Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions, SF, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997

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.

History of the de Young Museum, de Young, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 15 November 2011: http://deyoung.famsf.org/about/history-de-young-museum

Collins, Herbert Ridgeway, Threads of History, City of Washington, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1979.

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	32
Length of Fly	29

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	35
Frame Length	39

Stars
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no

Stripes
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Crest/Emblem
Description of Crest/Emblem	Copy of Declaration of Independence printed on fabric, illustrated all round with State emblems (?).

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Cotton

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Thread
Thread Material	Cotton

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents
Drawings
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Small hole top r.h. corner, slight staining
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1825

Publications

Publication Copy

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p.11 Declaration of Independence Commemorative Print The Flag Resolution of June 14, 1777, that replaced the British Union Jack in the flag representing the United Colonies with a blue canton bearing the 13 stars of the independent United States, was the result of a political decision made nearly a year earlier. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, and first read to the public two days later on July 4th now celebrated as Americas Independence Day. Although it had long been read annually at commemorations on that day, a new appreciation for the document took hold just prior to its fiftieth anniversary in 1826. That was especially the case when the nation learned of the death of two of its principal authors John Adams and Thomas Jeffersonon July 4th that year. This commemorative weaving bears the text of the Declaration of Independence, the seals of the 13 original states, and vignettes of Presidents Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. There are also pictures of the Boston Tea Party, the surrender of General Gates at Saratoga, and an American eagle carrying a flag. Examples of the same print in blue and white survive and versions printed on paper are also known. Date:1824 1828 or earlier Size:29" wide x 32" long Medium:Printed cotton; hand-stitched Provenance:Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1997 from the De Young Museum San Francisco CA Collection through Butterfield & Butterfield Auction House of San Francisco, CA. ZFC0212