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15 Star Flag, Made either to Celebrate Kentucky Statehood or Celebrate the South

About the Item

15 stars, made either to celebrate Kentucky statehood or to glorify the south, 1861-1876, very rare. 15 star American parade flag with 13 stripes, printed on coarse, glazed cotton. The stars are arranged in a medallion configuration that consists of a large center star, surrounded by 10 stars, with a flanking star in each corner of the blue canton. The stars have a somewhat bulbous and irregular profile, which lends a nice level of folk quality to the overall design. A small group of 15 star parade flags of a similar nature was found with a group of 35 star parade flags (circa 1863-1865). Both were obviously made at the same time by the same flag-maker and so the date of manufacture of the 15 star flags could be logically dated to the Civil War period. This particular flag in question, although slightly different in style, is nearly identical in size and color, and was manufactured in the same general period, but perhaps by a different manufacturer or perhaps a bit later. The 15 stars reflect one of two potential functions. One possibility is that they represent the number of states that the maker felt were allied with the South. While 11 states "officially" seceded from the Union, voting for secession by popular vote and with their state governments formally ratifying that vote, there were, at the beginning of the Civil War, four additional Border States. These generally supported the South, but didn't secede in such a formal manner. Together they represented all 15 of the Slave States. Another possibility is that they were made to glorify Kentucky, the citizens of which were involved in a dilemma regarding their allegiance. Men from Kentucky served on both sides of the battle field. White the state attempted to maintain neutrality, the invasion by Confederate troops prompted them to call upon Union forces to drive out the Confederate Army. On November 20th 1861, while in a state of unrest, the people of Kentucky formed a group styling itself as a "Convention of the people of Kentucky". With 200 participants representing 65 counties, the group voted in favor of secession and the Confederate States of America formally admitted Kentucky as the 13th state on December 10th, 1861. Because this vote wasn't ratified by the state legislature, as was the case in the first 11 Confederate States, Kentucky is considered a Border State. A different although similar situation occurred in Missouri, which was also formally admitted by Jefferson Davis (number 12), yet remained a Border State in the eyes of the Union, since the official government of the state did not vote on secession. The group of similar 15 star flags and 35 star flags referenced above turned up at a yard sale in the southern part of Ohio, which shares its southern border with Kentucky. Because 15 star parade flags in this form are so rare, and because this group was founded so near to the state in question, it is logical to suggest that the flags may have been intended for use by Kentucky residents, whether in their own state, or possibly in a nearby metropolis, such as Cincinnati, or elsewhere. It is interesting to note that the 35 star variety is practically as rare, with fewer than fifteen known examples. West Virginia became the 35th state when it broke off from Virginia during the Civil War in 1863. It also borders both Ohio and Kentucky, which draws another possible parallel to the flags' regional use. This is unusual, as flags with 35 stars were in used nation-wide among union supporters, just as 50 star flags are in use today across the country and around the world and bear no relevance to the 50th state (Hawaii). While it may be simply coincidental that the flags were found in close proximity to Kentucky and West Virginia, it does raise suspicion that there might be some reason for flags in these two star counts having been found together. They do, after all, relate to very important times in their respective political histories. Kentucky celebrated its 75th anniversary of statehood in 1867, just two years following the Civil War. Then, in 1876, our nation celebrated its 100th anniversary of independence with its first ever World's Fair, held in Philadelphia. Either of these two events is a possible alternative, though war-period production seems more likely. Surviving 15 star flags that date to the 19th century are rare. The fact that so few exist raises their interest among collectors who wish to own a flag in that star count, irrespective of the precise period of its manufacture, and the speculation of the reason behind the use of that count is certainly compelling. Mounting: The black-painted molding retains its original surface and dates to the period between 1840 and 1860. To this a gilded frame of the 1840-1860 period was added as a liner. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which has been washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye, and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass. Condition: There is moderate staining in vertically-oriented sections along the hoist and in the stripe field, accompanied by minor staining elsewhere. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. This example presents very well and its rarity well-warrants the condition. Frame size (H x L): 12.75" x 15.75" . Flag size (H x L): 5" x 8".

Dimensions:
Height: 12.75 in (32.39 cm)Width: 15.75 in (40.01 cm)
Period:
1860-1869
Date of Manufacture:
1861-1876
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 15j-8111stDibs: LU84971761142

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