Last modified: 2004-11-20 by rick wyatt
Keywords: thirty-eight | united states | concentric | hourglass |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
In 1877, one star was added, representing Colorado, bringing the total number of stars to 38. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998
I just ran across a 1986 reprint of a book issued by the U.S. Army Quartermaster General called Specifications for Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage, and Clothing and Equipage Materials (Philadelphia: Philadelphia Depot of the Quartermaster's Department, 1889). It includes a number of flag specifications issued between 1876 and 1889. Taken in combination with the contemporary U.S. Navy Tables of Equipment and Flags of Maritime Nations (1882), it is interesting to note the variation in official proportions and designs of the S&S at the time. Looking at the flags side by side also lets
one see why President Taft felt the need to standardize the design by executive order in 1912.
Joe McMillan, 9 February 2001
by Rick Wyatt, 16 July 2001 Oval As Depicted On Stamp |
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 30 July 2001 Perfect Circles |
Concentric Circle Designs (1877) - As depicted in the postage stamp, 13 white/red stripes, blue canton with one larger white 5-pointed star in center, 13 white 5-pointed stars in oval around central star, 20 white 5-pointed stars in oval around that and one white 5-pointed star in each corner.
Dave Martucci, 17 October 1999
by Devereaux Cannon, 11 February 2001
This image is of an original 38 star flag, thought to be a merchant ensign dating from between 1877 and 1880, in my
collection. It is similar to the 1882 navy ensign, but with a shorter length to width ratio, and the 7 stars on rows 2 and 4 are space so as to take up the same space as the 8 stars on rows 1, 3, and 5.
Devereaux Cannon, 11 February 2001
by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 13 August 2001
Another example of a tribute to our First Centennial shows an attempt to plan the size of the stars so that they fill as much of the blue canton as possible.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 13 August 2001
by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 13 August 2001
Here, the crossing diagonal lines of stars outline the cross of St. Andrew. But, if the flag is placed upright, it will be seen that the arrangement also depicts the shape of an hourglass with two stars representing two centuries, in the process of dropping to the bottom of the glass. We have here therefore possibly the most original conception celebrating the advent of the First Centennial.
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 13 August 2001