U.S. 13 Star Centennial Flag, 1876.

13 Star U.S. flag - Centennial Flag, used in 1876 .
This small 13 star flag, which was both machine- and hand-sewn, belonged to the personal collection of William H. Guthman, founder of Guthman Americana in Wesport, Connecticut. Guthman was a respected dealer, scholar and author, and was considered a preeminent authority on Colonial and Federal period militaria.

Guthman, an American-history buff since his youth, began seriously collecting military antiques in 1966 after his profession as a textile-manufacturing executive. As a prominent antiques dealer, he specialized in historical American military antiques. Mr. Guthman's collection primarily contained artifacts from the French & Indian and American Revolutionary Wars. Due to his vast knowledge and well-known collection, Guthman helped make a name for military antiques in the collecting world. He also helped increase interest in the objects among art museums, as he was one of the very first people to opine that militaria was also folk art.

Probably no 13 star American flag is better known to the general public than the "Betsy Ross design" with its 13 red and white stripes and single ring of 13 white 5 point stars. Historians today think that most flags from the years 1777-1795 (when the 13 star flag was official) had rows of stars, not constellations. The reason for this (on sewn flags) was largely practical. It is easier to sew stars onto flags in rows rather than geometric shapes. The five point star is thus not only easier to see, but easier to make as well.

Referencing surviving examples and period illustrations, the 4-5-4 star pattern is both one of the earliest and one of the most common documented 18th century star arrangements. Conversely, the star pattern of 3,2,3,2,3 is a Revolutionary War star pattern that was only used throughout the early 19th century. In all 13 star flags both stars and stripes stand for the 13 original states of the Union.

Acquired with ZFC0114

Exhibition History:
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC1091)
Thirteen-Star, United States Flag

Second Presidio Exhibit Gallery One Copy 2003
ZFC1091
13-Star United States Flag

Publication History:
Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 23.

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Provenance:

• William Guthman of Westport, CT, until 1995.
• Acquired by purchase by the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1995.



Sources:

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Potts, Monica, January 9, 2006, William Guthman, Antiques Dealer, Is Dead at 81 , New York Times.com, 4 October 2011, from: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/09/nyregion/09guthman.html

Beach, Laura, Jan 3rd, 2006, Noted Scholar and Dealer William H. Guthman Dies, Antiques and the Arts Online, 4 October, 2011, from: http://antiquesandthearts.com/Antiques/TradeTalk/2006-01-03__07-52-07.htmll

Cooper, Grasce Rogers, Thirteen-Star Flags: Keys to Identification, Smithsonian Institution Press, City of Washington, 1973. Pp.8,9,10,11 & 51.

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	57
Length of Fly	36

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	23
Length of Union/Canton	21

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	3-2-3-2-3 horizontal rows
Size of Stars	2.5

Stripes
Width of 1st Stripe	3.5
Width of 3rd Stripe	3.5
Width of 8th Stripe	2.5
Width of Last Stripe	2.75
Size of Hoist	1.25

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	43
Frame Length	64

Stars
Number of Stars	13
How are the stars embeded?	Sewn
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes

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

Stitching
Stitching	Combination
Comments on Stitching	Hand & Machine stitching

Thread
Thread Material	Cotton

Weave
Type of Weave	Plain

Attachment
Method of Attachment	Loop & Lead line

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Good
Damage	Used, worn with some holes
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1840-1860

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC1091) Thirteen-Star, United States Flag Date: About 1876 Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; machine sewn with hand stitched stars Comment: The thirteen-star United States flag with its stars arranged in the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern was the pattern most illustrated in the flag identification charts published in Europe after the Treaty of Paris in 1783 recognized American independence. The pattern seems to have been revived during the American Civil War, and (because it symmetrically filled the canton) became an increasingly popular commemorative flag during the decade leading up to the Centennial Celebration. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1091) in 1999 from William Guthman of Westport, CT. Second Presidio Exhibit Gallery One Copy 2003 ZFC1091 13-Star United States Flag Date: About 1876 Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; machine-sewn with machine-stitched stars Comment: The 13-star United States flag with its stars arranged in the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern was the version most often illustrated in the flag identification charts published in Europe after the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which recognized American independence. That pattern seems to have been revived during the American Civil War. Because it symmetrically filled the canton, the pattern also became an increasingly popular commemorative flag during the decade leading up to the Centennial celebration. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC1091) in 1999 from William Guthman of Westport, CT

Publications

Publication Copy

Publication Copy: Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 23. 13-Star United States Flag The 13-star United States flag with its stars arranged in the 3-2-3-2-3 pattern was the version most often illustrated in the flag identification charts published in Europe after the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which recognized American independence. That pattern seems to have been revived during the American Civil War. Because it symmetrically filled the canton, the pattern also became an increasingly popular commemorative flag during the decade leading up to the Centennial celebration. This flag would have been flown during the administration of Ulysses S. Grant. Date: About 1876 Size: 36" hoist x 57" fly Media: Wool bunting with cotton stars; machine-sewn with machinestitched stars Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1999 from Scott Guthman of Santa Cruz, CA, who acquired it from his father William Guthman of Connecticut ZFC1091