ZFC Item Section - U.S. 29 Star Flag - Iowa's Admission to the Union.

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 (ZFC0628) TWENTY-NINE-STAR UNITED STATES "PARADE" FLAG Date: 1847-1848 Medium: Printed on cotton Comment: Parade and Political Campaign flags had their origins during the Whig versus Democrat Party political campaigns in the fourth decade of the nineteenth century. The national election of 1840 pitted the Whig William Henry Harrison against the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren. As the issues of the campaign were lackluster, the Whigs brought "personalities" into the campaign as a surrogate, taunting "Old Tippecanoe" (W.H. Harrison) as "candidate from the common people" (which was far from the case). The campaign was the first "media blitz", with banners and flags replead with slogans and pictures. The technique of printing on silk and cotton had, by 1840, been perfected so that cheap "campaign" and "parade" flags could be obtained a very modest prices for waving at political ralleys and parades. These devices continued in use in the 1844 presidential and 1848 presidential campaigns and remain a fixture in American politics. This flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election before Wisconsin's admission in May of 1848 made the flag technically obsolete. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0628) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection of New York City through auction at Sotheby's. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery II (ZFC0628) 29-Star United States "Parade Flag" Date: 1847-1848 29 Stars: July 4, 1847-July 3, 1848 (Iowa statehood December 28, 1846) Medium: Printed cotton Comment: Parade and political campaign flags had their origins during the presidential election activities in the fourth decade of the 19th century which pitted Whigs against Democrats. The national election of 1840 saw William Henry Harrison running against the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren. As the issues at stake were lackluster, the Whigs brought personalities into the campaign, vaunting "Old Tippecanoe" (W.H. Harrison) as "the candidate of the common people"-although that was far from the case. The campaign turned into the first media blitz with parades featuring banners and flags replete with slogans and pictures and accompanied by replicas of the log cabin Harrison supposedly had been born in. By 1840 techniques of printing on silk and cotton had been developed such that campaign and parade flags could be obtained very modest prices. This made them ideal for waving at political rallies and parades in great numbers to attract voters and create excitement. They continued in use in later presidential campaigns and even today constitute a standard fixture in American politics. This specific flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election, although recognition of Wisconsin's admission to the Union and the new star added to the U.S. flag on Independence Day 1848 made it obsolete. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0628) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City.

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
(ZFC0628)
TWENTY-NINE-STAR UNITED STATES "PARADE" FLAG
Date: 1847-1848
Medium: Printed on cotton
Comment: Parade and Political Campaign flags had their origins during the Whig versus Democrat Party political campaigns in the fourth decade of the nineteenth century. The national election of 1840 pitted the Whig William Henry Harrison against the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren. As the issues of the campaign were lackluster, the Whigs brought "personalities" into the campaign as a surrogate, taunting "Old Tippecanoe" (W.H. Harrison) as "candidate from the common people" (which was far from the case). The campaign was the first "media blitz", with banners and flags replead with slogans and pictures. The technique of printing on silk and cotton had, by 1840, been perfected so that cheap "campaign" and "parade" flags could be obtained a very modest prices for waving at political ralleys and parades. These devices continued in use in the 1844 presidential and 1848 presidential campaigns and remain a fixture in American politics. This flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election before Wisconsin's admission in May of 1848 made the flag technically obsolete.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0628) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection of New York City through auction at Sotheby's.

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery II
(ZFC0628)
29-Star United States "Parade Flag"
Date: 1847-1848 29 Stars: July 4, 1847-July 3, 1848 (Iowa statehood December 28, 1846)
Medium: Printed cotton
Comment: Parade and political campaign flags had their origins during the presidential election activities in the fourth decade of the 19th century which pitted Whigs against Democrats. The national election of 1840 saw William Henry Harrison running against the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren. As the issues at stake were lackluster, the Whigs brought personalities into the campaign, vaunting "Old Tippecanoe" (W.H. Harrison) as "the candidate of the common people"-although that was far from the case. The campaign turned into the first media blitz with parades featuring banners and flags replete with slogans and pictures and accompanied by replicas of the log cabin Harrison supposedly had been born in. By 1840 techniques of printing on silk and cotton had been developed such that campaign and parade flags could be obtained very modest prices. This made them ideal for waving at political rallies and parades in great numbers to attract voters and create excitement. They continued in use in later presidential campaigns and even today constitute a standard fixture in American politics. This specific flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election, although recognition of Wisconsin's admission to the Union and the new star added to the U.S. flag on Independence Day 1848 made it obsolete.
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0628) in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City.

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. 48. "29-Star United States "Economy Flag" "Economy" and political campaign flags had their origins during the presidential election activities in the fourth decade of the 19th century which pitted Whigs against Democrats. The national election of 1840 saw William Henry Harrison running against the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren. As the issues at stake were lackluster, the Whigs brought personalities into the campaign, vaunting "Old Tippecanoe" (W.H. Harrison) as "the candidate of the common people"-although that was far from the case. The campaign turned into the first media blitz with parades featuring banners and flags replete with slogans and pictures and accompanied by replicas of the log cabin Harrison supposedly had been born in. By 1840 techniques of printing on silk and cotton had been developed such that campaign and small flags could be obtained a very modest prices. This made them ideal for waving at political rallies and parades in great numbers to attract voters and create excitement. They continued in use in later presidential campaigns and even today constitute a standard fixture in American politics. This specific flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election, when James K. Polk was replaced by Zachary Taylor. Date: 1847 - 1848 Size: 12" hoist x 15.5" fly 29 Stars: July 4, 1847 - July 3, 1848 (Iowa statehood December 28, 1846) Medium: Printed cotton Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City. ZFC0628

Publications

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. 48.
"29-Star United States "Economy Flag"
"Economy" and political campaign flags had their origins during the presidential election activities in the fourth decade of the 19th century which pitted Whigs against Democrats. The national election of 1840 saw William Henry Harrison running against the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren. As the issues at stake were lackluster, the Whigs brought personalities into the campaign, vaunting "Old Tippecanoe" (W.H. Harrison) as "the candidate of the common people"-although that was far from the case. The campaign turned into the first media blitz with parades featuring banners and flags replete with slogans and pictures and accompanied by replicas of the log cabin Harrison supposedly had been born in. By 1840 techniques of printing on silk and cotton had been developed such that campaign and small flags could be obtained a very modest prices. This made them ideal for waving at political rallies and parades in great numbers to attract voters and create excitement. They continued in use in later presidential campaigns and even today constitute a standard fixture in American politics. This specific flag was likely made for the 1848 presidential election, when James K. Polk was replaced by Zachary Taylor.
Date: 1847 - 1848
Size: 12" hoist x 15.5" fly
29 Stars: July 4, 1847 - July 3, 1848 (Iowa statehood December 28, 1846)
Medium: Printed cotton
Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 2002 from
the Mastai Flag Collection through auction at Sotheby's of New York City. ZFC0628