A military color of the Pontifical States circa 1870s.
The Pontifical States (also known as the Papal State) was a sovereign country until 1870 when it was absorbed by a united Italy. Its ruler, the Pope, withdrew to the Vatican Palace and refused to deal with the Italian government until the Lateran Treaty was signed in 1929 establishing the State of Vatican City as a sovereign country. Similar flags were used by some of the military units maintained at the Vatican in that era.

The colors yellow and white had been chosen for the Pontifical States in 1825 in place of yellow and red which had long been traditional. The papal emblem appears on the center of the Collection flag in gold within a wreath. The two keys refer to the ones mentioned in Matthew XVI:19 and the papal claim to authority over both spiritual and temporal matters.

Since at least the 13th century popes have used the special tiara shown on this flag as a symbol of their authority. This crown has three coronets circling it and a cross at the top. In the period when this flag was in use the pope did not have a flag of his own and the Pontifical States no longer existed. Catholic organizations would not have used the official papal emblem, although many used a plain yellow and white bi-color flag to honor the pope. The papal military color in this Collection may be the only one in private hands from this era.

This flag is from circa 1870s and in good condition although there is some slight discoloration. It is made from silk and the central emblem is embroidered on the obverse only. Five sets of ribbons are affixed for the purposes of attaching the flag to a staff.

Publication History
Becker, Rev. William M., The Flag Bulletin: Vol. XLV, No. 2, The Proto-National Papal Flag, March-April 2006

Becker, William M., Raven: A Journal of vexillology, Vol. XXV, Vatican flags: Keys and Crowns since 1800,2018.

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Provenance:
• Made in Papal States, circa. 1861-1870.
• Acquired by (Rev.) William P. Burke.
• Conveyed to de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA., 21 Jan. 1912.
• de Young Museum Collection until deaccession, 1997.
• Sold via Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions in San Francisco, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997.


Sources:


History of the de Young Museum, de Young, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 16 November 2011:
http://deyoung.famsf.org/about/history-de-young-museum

Becker, Rev. William M., The Flag Bulletin: Vol. XLV, No. 2, The Proto-National Papal Flag, March-April 2006.

Becker, William M., Raven: A Journal of vexillology, Vol. XXV, Vatican flags: Keys and Crowns since 1800,2018. p. 91.


Matthew XVI:19, Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA), Bible Gateway, 18 November 2011, from: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A19&version=DRA;KJV

Papal States, Wikipedia, 18 November 2011, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_States

Vatican - Historical Flags, Flags of the World, 18 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/va_hist.html

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection


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