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
(ZFC0419)
THIRTEEN-STAR, UNITED STATES MERCHANT SHIP'S ENSIGN
Date: Probably mid-Federal Period (1800-1805)
Media: Wool bunting and cotton stars; all hand stitched
Comment: This flag may well be the earliest United States flag in the Zaricor Flag Collection. The use of cotton stars suggests production after 1800; the woolen stripes have selvedge edges typical of early power looms and the flag is hand stitched. While it has been suggested that the flag could be even earlier than 1800, the marking "1 1/2" on the flag's linen heading refers to a flag manufactured to a specific fly dimension - one and a half yards, i.e. 54" (The flag's fly has been trimmed and resewn to a length of 48".) The size marking on the heading is more typical of flags manufactured as a "stock item" rather than individually hand crafted on special order. The earliest identified flag manufacturer in the United States was Rebecca Young of Philadelphia and Baltimore, who advertised in the contemporary newspapers about 1803 that she had on hand, ready-made flags. This flag may be one of her products.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0419) in 1992 from William Guthman of Westport, CT.

Second Presidio Exhibit Gallery One Copy - 2003
ZFC0419
13-Star United States Merchant Ship Ensign
Date: Probably mid-Federal Period (1800-1805)
Media: Wool bunting and cotton stars; hand-stitched
Comment: This flag may well be the earliest United States flag in the Zaricor Flag Collection. The use of cotton stars suggests production after 1800; the woolen stripes have selvedges typical of early power-loomed material and the flag is hand-stitched. It has been suggested that the flag could date even earlier than 1800. However, the marking 1 1/2 on the flag's linen heading refers to a flag manufactured to a specific fly dimension-in this case one and a half yards or 54". As a result of extensive usage, the fly has been trimmed and resewn and is now only 48". The size marking on the heading is more typical of flags manufactured as stock items rather than individually hand-crafted on special order. One of the earliest identified flag manufacturers in the United States was Rebecca Young of Philadelphia and Baltimore. She advertised in the newspapers around 1803 that she had on hand ready-made flags and this flag may be one of her products.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0419) in 1992 from William Guthman of Westport, CT.

Night of Flags
In celebration of George Washington's Birthday
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in California
Patriotic Services Committee
James Ferrigan, Curator, Flag Center
Ben Zaricor, Director, Flag Center
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Octagon House, San Francisco
5:30pm - 7:30 pm
This was a power point slide presentation on the period 13 star flag and Presidential flags in the Flag Center/Zaricor Flag Collection and comments by Ben Zaricor wherein the image of this flag was displayed.

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 Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.20. (see images below)


Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 17.

13-Star United States Merchant Ship Ensign
This flag is one of the earliest United States flags in the Zaricor Flag Collection. The use of cotton stars suggests production after 1799; the woolen stripes have selvedges typical of early power-loomed material and the flag is hand-stitched. It has been suggested that the flag could date even earlier than 1800. The marking "11⁄2" on the flag's linen heading refers to a flag manufactured to a specific fly dimension-in this case one and a half yards or 54". As a result of extensive usage, the fly has been trimmed and resewn and is now only 48". The size marking on the heading is more typical of flags manufactured as stock items rather than individually hand-crafted on special order. One of the earliest identified flag manufacturers in the United States was Rebecca Young of Philadelphia and Baltimore. She advertised in the newspapers around

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.