Collecting Possibilities Beyond Books
- By Bruce McKinney
Victory of USS Constitution over HMS Guerriere in War of 1812. Courtesy the Navy Museum
Collecting in the works on paper category has over the years become both easier and more complex. What was for many collectors once the collecting of rare books has become the collecting of rarities in all the printed forms with an increasing openness to items in related fields. If you wonder if you are open to possibilities well beyond rare books consider this.
Freeman’s Auctioneers and Appraisers of Philadelphia offered on April 30th 13 lots of mostly American naval flags and pennants from the Collection of H. Richard Dietrich Jr. The first twelve lots were an extravagant group of flags that once flew on or were associated with the USS Constitution. The 13th lot was a 13 star flag that did not sell.
Let’s set the stage.
Through the efforts of President George Washington the USS Constitution was completed in 1797. It was one of 6 original frigates authorized for by the Naval Act of 1794 and the 3rd and final one constructed, in time becoming the lone survivor of this early effort to build a United States Navy. Over her career she would serve in many theatres and be flagship for the Mediterranean and African Squadrons in the 1840s. It was primarily during this period that the flags in this collection, lots 1-12, were used. Some are dated by the number of stars, others by notes included with the items. In that era, but only after 1818, was it mandated to update American flags each July to reflect changes in the number of States by the addition of stars.
During her career many flags were constructed for use on the USS Constitution, their bunting fabric being very thin to encourage them to open up and be visible but also leading to shortened lives. Their dimensions and designs differed from flag maker to flag maker although the elements; red and white stripes and white stars on a blue background were common to all. For flags on ships early examples were often sewn and repaired onboard, they ephemeral objects, their survival unexpected. The few that survive show age and most wind wear. They are all rare.
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Collecting Possibilities Beyond Books
- By Bruce McKinney
An extraordinary survival
For Americans the USS Constitution, the lone survivor of the ships constructed based on the initial authorization by Congress in 1794, is today more familiarly known by her nickname, Old Ironsides, a name earned in her battle with the English 38-gun frigate Guerriere during the War of 1812. In the etiquette of naval warfare the British interlopers raised 3 ensigns [flags] to signal their desire to fight. The Constitution responded with 4 and the battle was joined. In capturing her counterpart the Constitution also captured the admiration of an adoring American public that has periodically since raised hue and cry when hardhearted bureaucrats sought to send her to the scrapyard. As a consequence she is the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Officially retired from service as a 1st rate vessel in 1855, she then became a training vessel. In 1907 she was designated a museum ship and today is berthed at Pier 1 of the former Charlestown Navy Yard, at one end of Boston’s Freedom Trail.
The final lot, lot 13, a thirteen star American Naval Color, is the only lot that didn’t sell and the only one not associated with Old Ironsides. It’s a 6’ 1” x 10’ 10” outlier with support of scientific analysis confirming age and evidence of long-ago seawater and gunpowder but without a provenance or history. It is possibly the oldest flag in this sale although its date of sewing and years of use cannot be precisely determined. According To Col. J. Craig Nannos who was asked by Freeman’s to evaluate the collection, its date of construction is difficult to precisely confirm. Nevertheless he’s confident “It’s authentic.”
Here is how it was described in the sale:
Lot 13
Rare 13- star American Naval Color
late 18th/ early 19th century
The canton comprised of two lengths of blue wool bunting with selvage edge at top and bottom, appliqued with thirteen unmercerized cotton stars arranged in a 4-5-4 configuration, eight red and white wool bunting stripes, all hand -sewn with cotton 3 Z-spun single plied thread, canvas hoist.
H 6'1" x W 10' 10"
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Collecting Possibilities Beyond Books
- By Bruce McKinney
USS Constitution at Malta. Image courtesy US Naval Academy Museum
The 13-star flag is the earliest and one of the rarest colors in the collection. The Third Flag Act of 1818 stated, "That from and after the fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes alternate red and white: that the union be twenty stars, white in a blue field and be it further enacted, that on the admission of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect of the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission."
The canton, uppermost and lowermost stripes with selvage edges. There is no evidence of a larger canton or additional stripes. Loss to hoist, flag with frayed edges, scattered losses and mends
Further background.
In 1818 and thereafter the admission of a new state would require a new star be added to the flag by the next July 4th. Prior to 1818 the number of stars and even the number of stripes varied. However thirteen star versions, even after 1818, continued to be used until officially retired by President Wilson in 1916. This has lead to the need to use textile analysis to date early thirteen star flags. One expert believes the flag’s heavy thread dates the flag to “after 1810” and further advances in thread construction in the 1840s to “before 1840”.
According to Col. Nannos we can say, about lot 13, possibly “late 18th century into the early 19th century” and that is probably better than it sounds because so few flags survive. They were fragile in construction and often later cut up and re-sewn for other purposes. “The Navy was frugal," Col. Nannos explained.
When asked to estimate how many early 13 star flags will appear during the next 100 years he suggested 2 to 5, that is the probability of reappearance is somewhere between 20 and 50 years. “They are very rare. There is no doubt about this.”
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Collecting Possibilities Beyond Books
- By Bruce McKinney
This catalogue: a reference for flag collectors
Jeff R. Bridgman, a dealer and appraiser in the field of American flags, believes the flag dates to the War of 1812. “Without doubt it is an exceptional object, difficult to date, its history obscure. There is some evidence it was at sea and some suggestion that smoke permeated its cloth. As to its value it’s worth a lot. Its lack of date and history is probably why it didn’t sell.” This said, Mr. Bridgman mentioned that such flags are so rare, “their value is set by the very occasional seller rather than by the market. Such flags simply don’t come up.” He believes lot 13 was the best item in the sale.
As of this writing, no one has come forward with a post-sale offer to buy it.
Over the past 20 years the collecting of books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera has become ‘visual’ and these flags must rank with the most visually compelling Americana to come on the market in years. Put one of these flags up in the living room or study and no one will ask what you collect. They’ll ask only what else you have.
In the recent sale the first 12 of the 13 lots, all well documented and connected to the USS Constitution, sold for $785,750 against their aggregate high estimate of $1,076,500. The thirteenth lot was bought in for $130,000 and continues, post sale, to be available.
The family disposing of the collection provided extensive information on the first dozen flags. They were purchased in 1964 for $850 against a dealer’s asking price of $1,000. They have not however provided details about the purchase of lot 13. The first twelve lots set records according to Andrew Huber of Freeman’s who managed the sale. Four lots were sold above their high estimates and 8 within their estimates. The sale was aggressively but as it turned out, correctly estimated. Lynda Cain, a Freeman’s Vice President, catalogued the sale. As it is the consignors are doing okay. Their compound annual rate of return on their $850 investment for the first dozen flags is 14.96% on what turned out to be a 49-year annuity.
For the buyer this flag will present some unique challenges. Conservation, framing and possible additional analysis will require further investments. But when all is done this threadbare rarity may so evoke American history that it will dominate every discussion in its presence. Many books are about history. This flag is history and compelling.
Links to the full catalogue at Freeman’s
Links to Andrew Huber at Freeman’s
Tel: 267-414-1259
Email: ahuber@freemansauction.com
Links to Jeff R. Bridgman Antiques
Tel: 717 502-1281
Email: info@jeffbridgman.com
Links to Col. J. Craig Nannos
Tel: 610 520-1283
thesentrypost@gmail.com
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