ZFC Item Section - 13 Star S.S. Arctic U.S. Merchant Eagle Jack.

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	Second Presidio Exhibit 2003 Gallery III (ZFC0621) 13-Star American Commercial or Merchantman's Jack, of S.S. Arctic Date: About 1850-1870 Media: Wool bunting with cotton appliquÃ© and painted-over details Comment: The Union Flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 to symbolize the joining of the England and Scotland under the common crown of King James I. It was not, however, the main flag of the king's ships but was used as a secondary identifying flag to be flown from a gaff positioned at the bow of the king's ships. In 1634, a proclamation was issued that prohibited all but the Royal Navy from flying the Union Jack at the bow of British ships. In 1674, this restriction was re-emphasized, at the same time that the red ensign was established as the official flag of British merchant ships. Nevertheless the prohibition was difficult to enforce and often more honored in the breach than not. Merchant ships continued to illegally utilize the Union Jack initially because it granted certain privileges in French and Dutch ports and also because it thwarted impressments of seamen by larger naval vessels. Impressments of American sailors would prove a friction point between England and the fledgling United States in the first decade of the 18th century. The issue was one of the primary causes of the war of 1812. Unlike English law, American naval practice didn't prohibit American merchantmen from flying their nation's colors as a jack on the ship's bow. Because they gave the intimidating impression that the ship flying such a flag was a U.S. Naval vessel, many American merchantmen outfitted their ships with not only the American ensign, but also with a jack flag that copied the canton (the union) of the U.S. flag. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0621) in 2002 from the Mastai collection of New York City through auction at Sotheby's.

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

Second Presidio Exhibit
2003 Gallery III
(ZFC0621)
13-Star American Commercial or Merchantman's Jack, of S.S. Arctic
Date: About 1850-1870
Media: Wool bunting with cotton appliquÃ© and painted-over details
Comment:
The Union Flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 to symbolize the joining of the England and Scotland under the common crown of King James I. It was not, however, the main flag of the king's ships but was used as a secondary identifying flag to be flown from a gaff positioned at the bow of the king's ships. In 1634, a proclamation was issued that prohibited all but the Royal Navy from flying the Union Jack at the bow of British ships. In 1674, this restriction was re-emphasized, at the same time that the red ensign was established as the official flag of British merchant ships. Nevertheless the prohibition was difficult to enforce and often more honored in the breach than not. Merchant ships continued to illegally utilize the Union Jack initially because it granted certain privileges in French and Dutch ports and also because it thwarted impressments of seamen by larger naval vessels. Impressments of American sailors would prove a friction point between England and the fledgling United States in the first decade of the 18th century. The issue was one of the primary causes of the war of 1812.
Unlike English law, American naval practice didn't prohibit American merchantmen from flying their nation's colors as a jack on the ship's bow. Because they gave the intimidating impression that the ship flying such a flag was a U.S. Naval vessel, many American merchantmen outfitted their ships with not only the American ensign, but also with a jack flag that copied the canton (the union) of the U.S. flag.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0621) in 2002 from the Mastai collection of New York City through auction at Sotheby's.

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, pp. 56-57. 13-Star American Commercial (Merchantman's) Jack of the S.S. Arctic The Union Flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 to symbolize the joining of the England and Scotland under the common crown of King James I. It was not, however, the main flag of the king's ships but was used as a secondary identifying flag flown from a jack staff positioned at the bow of those ships. In 1634, a proclamation was issued that prohibited all but the Royal Navy from flying the Union Jack at the bow of British ships. In 1674, this restriction was re-emphasized, at the same time that the Red Ensign was established as the official flag of British merchant ships. Nevertheless the prohibition was difficult to enforce and often more honored in the breach than not. Merchant ships continued to illegally utilize the Union Jack initially because it provided several privileges in French and Dutch ports but primarily because it inhibited the impressment of seamen by larger naval vessels. Impressment of seamen would prove a friction point between Britain and the fledgling United States in the first decade of the 18th century. Unlike English law, nothing in American naval practice prohibited American merchantmen from flying jack flags. Many American merchantmen outfitted their ships with not only the American ensign, but also with a jack flag that copied the canton (union) of the U.S. flag. Some American commercial flags often incorporated the U.S. coat of arms into the union with the stars. Commercial jacks accordingly complemented their ensigns and similarly bore the U.S. coat of arms. This commercial jack was used by the ship Arctic; however, at least seven commercial vessels carried that name in the period in which this flag dates. Date: About 1850 - 1870 Size: 88" hoist x 105" fly Media: Wool bunting with cotton applÃquÃ© and overpainted details Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City. ZFC0621"

Publications

Publication Copy

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, pp. 56-57.

13-Star American Commercial (Merchantman's) Jack of the S.S. Arctic
The Union Flag of Great Britain was established in 1606 to symbolize the joining of the England and
Scotland under the common crown of King James I. It was not, however, the main flag of the king's ships
but was used as a secondary identifying flag flown from a jack staff positioned at the bow of those ships.
In 1634, a proclamation was issued that prohibited all but the Royal Navy from flying the Union Jack at
the bow of British ships. In 1674, this restriction was re-emphasized, at the same time that the Red Ensign
was established as the official flag of British merchant ships. Nevertheless the prohibition was difficult
to enforce and often more honored in the breach than not. Merchant ships continued to illegally utilize
the Union Jack initially because it provided several privileges in French and Dutch ports but primarily
because it inhibited the impressment of seamen by larger naval vessels. Impressment of seamen would
prove a friction point between Britain and the fledgling United States in the first decade of
the 18th century. Unlike English law, nothing in American naval practice prohibited American merchantmen from
flying jack flags. Many American merchantmen outfitted their ships with not only the American ensign,
but also with a jack flag that copied the canton (union) of the U.S. flag.
Some American commercial flags often incorporated the U.S. coat of arms into the union with the stars.
Commercial jacks accordingly complemented their ensigns and similarly bore the U.S. coat of arms.
This commercial jack was used by the ship Arctic; however, at least seven commercial vessels carried that
name in the period in which this flag dates.

Date: About 1850 - 1870
Size: 88" hoist x 105" fly
Media: Wool bunting with cotton applÃquÃ© and overpainted details
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection
through auction at Sotheby's of New York City. ZFC0621"