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US Flag, 15-Star

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
US Flag, 15-Star

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Auction Date:2016 May 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Hand-stitched wool bunting flag with fifteen stars and thirteen stripes, made circa 1850–1880, measuring 66.5 x 35.5 overall with a 24.5 x 17.75 canton. The bunting is woven from machine spun threads and has a tubular linen hoist measuring approximately 1.66? in diameter. The double-sided white linen stars are arranged in an unusual pattern consisting of an oval of eleven surrounding a central group of four. There are several holes worn through the bunting along the hoist and bottom edges of the canton, as well some fraying along the top edge. The ends of the white stripes have been reinforced by irregularly sized rectangular panels on the fly end, and there is a sewn repair at the lower corner of the fly. The colors have faded over time to attractive, mellow-toned hues.

The fifteen-star flag was adopted unofficially following the admission of Kentucky into the Union in 1792, with official adoption occurring following the Second Flag Act of 1795. As adopted, the flag would have had fifteen stripes as well, but these were not consistently included during the period of official adoption and were often left out of later examples. The fifteen-star flag was replaced by the twenty-star flag following the Third Flag Act of 1818, but they were made in high numbers up to the Centennial. Original fifteen-star flags are supremely rare with only a handful of original examples known to exist, including the Fort McHenry ‘Star Spangled Banner.’ This mid-to-late 19th century example is an attractive flag and in good overall condition.