Collecting Antique American Flags

When we think of antique flags, the famous Betsy Ross 13-star wreath pattern flag comes to mind. It is the design most of us associate with the fight for American Independence. Yet, there is little documentation confirming that Betsy Ross, from her home on Arch Street in Philadelphia, actually designed such a flag.  

While we have information that the famous 13-star (representing the original colonies) flag highlighted by a circular wreath format was produced circa 1890. That was the time when Ross’s granddaughter established a business making flags for tourists in center city Philadelphia. The 13-star flag was used often and remains a highly recognizable image in Americana and similar flags were flown during the 1876 Centennial and 1926 Sesquicentennial expos.  

Early 19th Century Flags

Over the decades, many different flags were introduced. Some early 19th Century flags had a blue field of stars where the stars were designed in many forms. The stars were embroidered in snowflake patters, letters, and even in the form of one large star comprised of a group of many smaller stars. At this point in history, the  white stars were not always designed in straight lines. They were often scattered upon the field of blue. Some of these early flags, circa 1825, were enhanced with high quality and expensive materials such as silk and spun metal threads of gold and sterling silver. The white stars were painted with oils and the silk fabric provided the support for the artistry.  

Civil War Flags

Civil war flags are among the most desirable and collectible on the market today. These flags are typically feature 35 stars. Some flags date to the era when West Virginia became the 35th state on June 20, 1863, days before the historic Battle of Gettysburg. On our nation’s flag, star number 35 was added on July 4, 1863 and that flag was used until the Civil War’s end.  

On a cotton flag, it is rare to find painted stars. Instead, stars are either embroidered on by hand or by machine. Often the stars are applied in such a manner as they are visible from both sides of the flag which is optimum when the flag is flown. 

Centennial Flags: 1776 to 1876

The famous Centennial flag focuses on the great celebration or world’s fair held in Philadelphia in 1876. In addition to the presentation of the Statue of Liberty’s torch at this spectacle, many flags were used during the event celebrating 100 years of American independence.  

I appraised one such flag at an appraisal event in Hazelton, PA and it was made of a fabric blend of cotton and wool. Typically used for a parade flag, the wool was introduced because it would withstand the outdoor weather and the long time use. The stars spell out the Centennial’s dates “1776-1876” and these flags sell for $20,000 on today’s antiques market.  

There was, as many of you will recall, a spark in flag collecting after September 11, 2001. I believe there will be increased interest in buying and selling historic flags and other pieces of Americana as we soon will remember the 10th anniversary of that fateful day on September 11, 2011.  

Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide. As seen on NBC’s The Tonight Show and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, watch Dr. Lori weekdays on Lifetime Television. To learn about the value of your antiques, visit www.DrLoriV.com, follow Dr. Lori on www.facebook.com/DoctorLori or call (888) 431-1010.