Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0125) 31-STAR UNITED STATES MOURNING FLAG Date: 1850-1851 (probably reused in 1865) Media: Printed cotton with black silk crepe border Comment: The star arrangement of this Stars and Stripes reflects a frugal modification of an older 30-star flag by the inclusion of an extra star to represent California's admission to the Union. From 1840 through 1860, inexpensive flags were printed on cotton or poplin (a fabric combining cotton woofs with silk wefts), utilizing the same type of carved wooden blocks that were used for printing illustrations. Rather than make an entirely new printing block for a 31-star canton, the craftsman at the flag factory where this flag was produced simply added one star to the original pentagonal design. This saved the labor that would have been required for cutting the other 30 stars. In 1850 President Zachary Taylor died in office - only the second president to do so. (William Henry Harrison, who caught pneumonia during his inauguration address, died after a month in office in 1841.) In accordance with Victorian-era practice, the border of this flag was decorated with black silk crepe to indicate that its owner was mourning the loss of an person, in this case the president. According to family tradition, this flag was brought out again in 1865 and displayed in honor of Abraham Lincoln, after he was assassinated in April that year. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0125) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY III (ZFC0125) 31-Star United States Mourning Flag Date: 1850-1851 (probably reused in 1865) 31 Stars: July 4, 1851-July 3, 1858 (California statehood September 9, 1850) Media: Printed cotton with black silk crepe border Comment: The star arrangement of this Stars and Stripes reflects a frugal modification of an older 30-star flag printing block by the inclusion of an extra star to represent California's admission to the Union. From 1840 through 1860, inexpensive flags were printed on cotton or poplin (a fabric combining cotton woofs with silk wefts), utilizing the same type of carved wooden blocks that were used for printing illustrations. Rather than make an entirely new printing block for a 31-star canton, the craftsman at the flag factory where this flag was produced simply added one star to the original pentagonal design. This saved the labor that would have been required for cutting the other 30 stars. In 1850 President Zachary Taylor died in office-only the second president to do so. (William Henry Harrison, who caught pneumonia during his inauguration address, had died after a month in office in 1841.) In accordance with Victorian-era practice, the border of this flag was decorated with black silk crepe to indicate that its owner was mourning the loss of an person, in this case the president. According to family tradition, this flag was brought out again in 1865 and displayed in honor of Abraham Lincoln, after he was assassinated in April that year. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0125) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD.

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Publication Copy

Publication History: Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 53. 31-Star United States Mourning Flag The star arrangement of this Stars & Stripes reflects a frugal modification of an older 30-star flag printing block by the inclusion of an extra star to represent California's admission to the Union. From 1840 through 1860, inexpensive flags were printed on cotton utilizing the same type of carved wooden blocks that were used for printing illustrations. Rather than make an entirely new printing block for a 31-star canton, the craftsman at the flag factory where this flag was produced simply added one star to the original pentagonal design. This saved the labor that would have been required for cutting 31 new stars on a new block. Thus another pattern was added to the existing repertory. In 1850 President Zachary Taylor died in office- only the second president to do so. (William Henry Harrison, who caught pneumonia during his inauguration address, had died after a month in office in 1841.) In accordance with Victorian-era practice, the border of this flag was decorated with black silk crepe to indicate that its owner was mourning the loss of an important person. According to family tradition, this flag was brought out again in 1865 and displayed in honor of Abraham Lincoln, after he was assassinated in April that year. Date: 1850 - 1851 (probably reused in 1865) Size: 35" hoist x 49" fly 31 Stars: July 4, 1851 - July 3, 1858 (California statehood September 9, 1850) Media: Printed cotton later decorated with black silk crepe border Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. ZFC012

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.