U.S. 17 Stars, 13 Stripes Flag - Hubbard Family.

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 on March 1, 1803; and would remain accurate until the admission of Louisiana on April 30, 1812; a period of 9 years, 1 month and 27 days later.

As previously mentioned, Ohio achieved statehood on March 1st, 1803 and thereby became the seventeenth state in the Union; the fifteen-star, fifteen-stripe U.S. flag adopted in 1794 was officially the national flag of the nation until 1818. It is known, however, that the United States Indian Department ordered seventeen-star, seventeen-stripe flags in the period 1804-1805 and later. Privately made flags from the same era also tended to reflect the consensus that all of the states be represented in the U.S. flag. This flag, bearing sixteen smaller stars in an oval around and central star (presumably representing Ohio) would seem to conform to that concept. Thirteen-star flags, also dating to the Mid-Federal Period, are also known to survive with this same basic star pattern.

This 17 star flag's early history is speculative; but it eventually became a part of the acclaimed collection of noted New York City antique dealer Mr. Boleslaw Mastai and his wife Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai. Their collection was the result of fifty (50) years of collection, research and study by the late husband-wife team. Mastai, started his collection in the early 20th century and amassed to greatest private flag collection in the United States which he personally detailed in his landmark book The Stars and The Stripes; The American Flag from Birth of the Republic to the Present, published by Alfred Knopf, New York 1973, and hailed as a revelation of the American Flag as art and as social history.

The materials and construction of this flag are consistent with others from the 17 star flag period. The most prominent flag of this group is the legitimate 17 star flag currently in possession of the Ashville Area Heritage Society, of Ashville, Ohio. This flag, called the Transitional Flag by the society, has identical star pattern 16 stars in a single ring with a center star.

Exhibition History:

First Presidio Exhibit
Seventeen-Star, Thirteen-Stripe, United States Flag
Date: Mid-Federal Period (1803-1812)

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery II
Seventeen-Star, Thirteen-Stripe, United States Flag
Date: Mid-Federal Period (1803-1812)

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


Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 36.


Provenance:
• Nehemiah Hubbard & family, Middletown, CT & Hubbard, Ohio, 1803-1812.
And thence by descent in the Hubbard Family until 1971 estate auction.
• Acquired at auction by Mr. & Mrs. Boleslaw & Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai, New York City, and Amagansett, NY, 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.

Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, The Stripes and Stars: The Evolution of the American Flag, Amon Carter Museum, Ft. Worth, 1973.

Mastai, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise D'Otrange, Our Unknown Flag: Almost 250 Flags and Artifacts from the famous Mastai Collection, New York, Boleslaw Mastai, Amagansett, Exhibited 14 June -28 July 1978US Customhouse, Plaza Lever, 6 World trade Center.

National 17 Star Transitional Flag, Ashville Area Heritage Society, 25 October 2011, from: http://ohiosmalltownmuseum.org/index.htm
17 Star Flag -unofficial- (U.S.), Flags of the World, 25 October 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-17.html

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	32
Length of Fly	47

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	Sixteen smaller stars in an oval around a central star.

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	41.5
Frame Length	56.5

Stars
Number of Stars	17
How are the stars embeded?	Sewn
Are there stars on obverse?	no
Are there stars on reverse?	no
Comments on Stars	Sixteen stars in an oval around a larger central star (presumably representing Ohio).

Stripes
Number of Stripes	13
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Wool
Comments on Fabric	Bunting

Stitching
Stitching	Hand

Attachment
Method of Attachment	Sleeve

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings	All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Research Documents
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	used, hoist removed
Displayable	no

Date
Date	1803-1812

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0626) Seventeen-Star, Thirteen-Stripe, United States Flag Date: Mid-Federal Period (1803-1812) Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; hand sewn Comment: Although Ohio achieved statehood on March 1st, 1803 and thereby became the seventeenth state in the Union, the fifteen-star, fifteen-stripe U.S. flag adopted in 1794 was officially the national flag of the nation until 1818. It is known, however, that the United States Indian Department ordered seventeen-star, seventeen-stripe flags in the period 1804-1805 and later. Privately made flags from the same era also tended to reflect the consensus that all of the states be represented in the U.S. flag. This flag, bearing sixteen smaller stars in an oval around an central star (presumably representing Ohio) would seem to conform to that concept. Thirteen-star flags, also dating to the Mid-Federal Period, are also known to survive with this same basic star pattern. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0626) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection of New York City through auction at Sotheby's. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery II (ZFC0626) 17-Star, 13-Stripe United States Flag Date: Mid-Federal Period (1803-1812) 17 Stars: Unofficial (Ohio statehood March 1, 1803) Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; hand-sewn Comment: Ohio achieved its statehood in 1803 as the seventeenth state in the Union, yet no alteration was made in the nation's flag at that time. The 15-star, 15-stripe version adopted in 1794 remained the official flag of the nation until 1818. It is known, however, that the United States Indian Department ordered 17-star, 17-stripe flags in the period 1804-1805 and later. Privately-made flags from the same era also tended to reflect a consensus that all the states should be represented in the U.S. flag. This specific flag, bearing 16 small stars in an oval around a central star-presumably representing Ohio-would seem to conform to that concept. There are known surviving 13-star flags, also dating to the mid-Federal Period, likewise characterized by this same basic star pattern. A regulation star arrangement still lay a century in the future. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0626) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City.

Publications
Publication Copy	Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 36. "17-Star, 13-Stripe United States Flag Ohio achieved its statehood in 1803 as the seventeenth state in the Union, yet no alteration was made in the nation's flag at that time. The 15-star, 15-stripe version adopted in 1794 remained the official flag of the nation until 1818. It is known, however, that the United States Indian Department ordered 17-star, 17-stripe flags in the period 1804-1805 and later. Privately-made flags from the same era also tended to reflect a consensus that all the states should be represented in the U.S. flag. This flag, bearing 16 small stars in an oval around a central star-presumably representing Ohio - would seem to conform to that concept. Also, there are known surviving 13-star flags, also dating to the mid-Federal Period, likewise characterized by this same basic star pattern. Neither the presidency of Thomas Jefferson nor James Madison supported any effort to standardize the flag. A regulation star arrangement still lay a century in the future. Date: Mid-Federal Period (1803 - 1812) Size: 32" hoist x 47" fly 17 Stars: Unofficial (Ohio statehood March 1, 1803) Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; hand-sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City. ZFC0626"
Flag Books	The Stars and The Stripes - Mastai