Small block-printed 33-star American national parade flag (Oregon statehood), 8.5 x 6, cotton fabric with a raw edge, featuring a double wreath (or double medallion) pattern with a large central elongated star and four flanking corner stars; the arms of the stars have an exaggerated length and thus bear a very interesting folk quality. Framed and in very good to fine condition, with minor fraying, faded colors, and embedded dirt and light staining; not examined outside of vintage frame.
Oregon entered the Union as the 33rd state on February 14th (Valentine's Day), 1859. The 33-star flag was official from 1859-1861 and was thus still the official flag when Ft. Sumter was fired upon on April 12th of that year. This event marked the beginning of the Civil War, and a 33-star flag was flying at Ft. Sumter during the attack. Because the 34th state, Kansas, had already acquired statehood on January 29, 1861, the 34-star flag was to become official on July 4th. For this reason, 33-star flags were not generally produced for the war, which would last until 1865, and 33-star flags were generally made pre-war. It is for this reason that 33-star examples are far and away more scarce than their 34, 35, and 36-star counterparts.
Flags made prior to the Civil War are extremely rare, comprising less than one percent of 19th-century flags that exist in the 21st century. Even the military did not use the national flag in a manner that most people might think. Most people are surprised to learn that the infantry wasn't authorized to carry the Stars & Stripes until well into the 19th century. The foremost purpose before the Civil War (1861-65) was to identify ships on the open seas. While the flag was used to mark garrisons and government buildings, the flags of ground forces were limited to those of their own regiment and perhaps a federal standard (a blue or buff yellow flag bearing the arms of the United States). Artillery units were the first to be afforded the privilege in 1834. The infantry followed in 1841, but the cavalry was not until 1862. The first actual war in which the Stars & Stripes was officially carried was thus the Mexican War (1846-48).
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