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There are a handful of
early American flags that I am aware of with pink coral silk stripes
similar to the Dyer Flag. Textile analysis would be
necessary to determine if in fact the silk in this flag could be of
18th century origins, and if so, this flag may be in
the company of an extremely rare few thought to be from
this period. To the right is a brief survey of some of
the other flags I know of with this trait. The pink and blue silk
coloration of the Dyer Flag is very similar to the
Nathaniel Shaw Flag in the New London County
Historical Society in New London, Connecticut, which,
based on provenance and examination by flag scholars,
may in fact be an 18th century American Flag.
Another extremely early American Flag, the L'Enfant
Flag, was attributed by Boleslaw Mastai as
an 18th century flag, though at auction was attributed
as first quarter of the 19th century. A rare 14
star flag with provenance that it descended in the
family of Nathan Beman, one of Ethan Allen's "Green
Mountain Boys", is estimated to date between 1795 and
1815. Later period flags, such as the Charlotte
Bright Flag and the John McFarland Flag are clearly of
the Civil War era.
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Nathaniel Shaw Flag, New London Historical
Society, New London, CT.
Believed to be 18th Century.
(Image New London Historical Society) |
Nathan Beman Flag
Believed to be of 18th Century or First Quarter,
19th Century.
(Image James Julia Auctions) |
L'Enfant Flag, Ex-Mastai
Collection, Believed to be 18th Century or First Quarter,
19th Century.
(Image Sotheby's Auctions) |
Charlotte Bright Flag,
Millersburg, KY.
Civil War, 1861
(Image James
Julia Auctions) |
John D. McFarland Flag, F
Company, 13th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Civil War, 1861
(Rare Flags Collection,
IAS-00105) |
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