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

Exhibition History First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0012) 38-STAR UNITED STATES FLAG Date: About 1880-1890 Media: Wool bunting press dyed and machine sewn Comment: The star arrangement of this flag agrees to the pattern stipulated for the post flag in the 1889 U.S. Army Quartermaster Department specifications. However, the size of the post flag was considerably larger than this flag, which is only 4' by 5'. The flags heading is marked Patented Apr. 26th, 1870, a reference to John Holts patent for press dyeing flags, which patent was under the control of the United States Bunting Company. It is thought that the U.S. Bunting Company may have prepared flags of this star pattern to interest other governmental departments in having flags with the same star arrangement as used by the Army; however, that speculation is not documented at this time. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0012) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. An important flag from the Star Spangled Banner Flag House Collection.

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

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 99. 38-Star Press-Dyed United States Flag The star pattern of this flag conforms to the one stipulated for the post flag in the 1889 U.S. Army Quartermaster Departments specifications. However, the official size of the post flag was considerably larger than this flag, which is only 3' by 5'. The post flag was the one normally flown at all Army installations. It was smaller than the garrison flag used on special occasions but larger than a storm flag, hoisted in increment weather. All three had the same design. The heading on this flag is marked Patented Apr. 26th, 1870. This is a reference to John Holts process for press-dyeing flags, the patent for which was under the control of the United States Bunting Company. That firm may have prepared flags of this star pattern in the hope of interesting other government departments in the purchase of flags with the same star arrangement as was used by the Army. However, that speculation has not yet been documented. Like many details concerning United States national flag history, the facts of the situation may some day be learned from some yet undiscovered archival material. The population of the country was just over 50 million people in 1880; it had increased to 63 million people by the 1890 census. Date: About 1880 1890 Size: 38" hoist x 62" fly 38 Stars: July 4, 1877 July 3, 1890 (Colorado statehood August 1, 1876) Media: Wool bunting; press-dyed and machine-sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD. ZFC0012

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.