by Lisa C. Cantwell
Dear Reader: This is a column to help you determine the history and value of your heirlooms, attic finds, flea market purchases, or antique items. Please send a picture and description of your piece, such as how you acquired it and any details about its history, to tomandlisa@wildblue.net. I’ll research any item, whether it’s a piece of furniture, a painting, a tool, a doll, a figurine, or an article of clothing. An approximate value will be determined to inform you if it’s a “Trinket or Treasure.” Please submit all pictures and questions by the preceding 15th of the month for possible publication in the next monthly issue of The Catoctin Banner. All inquiries will be answered; however, only those selected for publication will include approximate value assessments. Furthermore, not all submissions may be published in the Banner due to space considerations. Please include your name or initials and where you reside. Thank you and happy treasure hunting!
“Attached are some pictures of the 30-star, hand-stitched, pre-Civil war flag we found at my mother’s (she died recently). It originated from my Dad’s side, as the note we found with it was from my grandmother. How she got it, I do not know. We found it in a bag of linens, along with a flag of 48 stars (we almost didn’t look in there and were going to just put it with the other Goodwill items). It is approximately 10’ in length. It is hand-stitched and shows some wear. It has some tears along the upper edge and a “blood” or wine stain in the middle. The note says it was at a banquet in Arlington (Heights), Illinois, held in honor of Abraham Lincoln in 1858. Attached is a full picture of the flag, the note, and some of the stitching. We don’t really know what do with it, what its value is, if any, or who to contact to verify its story.”
— J. Joy, Frederick County
You have found a truly RARE, American TREASURE in your mother’s home!
This 30-star, 13-stripe pieced and sewn flag appears to be in very good condition and would be coveted by any collector or antique flag dealer. Regarding the history of this type of pre-Civil war era flag, the 30th star was added for the state of Wisconsin on May 29, 1848. The flag became official on July 4, 1848, and would be the national banner until July 4, 1851, when a star for California was added. Presidents James Polk (term: 1845-1849), Zachery Taylor (term: 1849-1850), and Millard Fillmore (term: 1850-1853) served under the 30-star flag. Among collectors, flags that pre-date the Civil War are the most desirable of all U.S. flags. One antique flag site stated that because the 30-star was official for only three years, there may be fewer than fifteen of these flags that remain today. Another noted that an authentic, hand-sewn, 30-star flag is a one in 10,000 find!
As for the flag’s provenance, your grandmother’s note mentions Arlington Heights, Illinois, as the site of a banquet held in 1858, where Abraham Lincoln was honored. Although my research did not reveal a banquet in Arlington Heights, per se, 1858 was indeed a very busy year for candidate Lincoln. He was nominated as the Republican choice for the Senate race by 1,000 delegates on June 16, 1858, at the State Republican Convention at the Springfield, Illinois, Statehouse. The vote occurred at 5:00 p.m. at the statehouse, with Lincoln delivering his famous “House Divided” at 8:00 p.m. that same evening. I could find no account of a banquet or dinner held that day, but further research on the Illinois state and local level might reveal more. As schoolchildren, we learned of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. It was in 1858 that seven debates occurred between Lincoln and Democratic nominee, Stephen A. Douglas, in seven towns throughout Illinois; but, again, none were held in Arlington Heights. Although your grandmother’s note is part of the flag’s legacy, it’s going to be difficult to prove factually, unless there’s a photo, program, or other evidence that such a banquet occurred. However, do present the note when you have it appraised.
A search of antique flag dealers revealed two that would be able to authenticate and value your flag. They are Jeff R Bridgman Antiques, Inc., of York, Pennsylvania, and Bonsell Americana of Hillsdale, Illinois. Both are reputable purveyors of early American flags. On its website, Bonsell Americana offers an authenticated, 36-star, American hand-sewn flag, ca 1864-1867, for $11,500. Bridgman Antiques did not have a 30-star flag on its website; however, in 2016, an article from a prominent magazine listed a 30-star, ca. 1848-50, “Navy Jack” offered by Bridgman. It was similar to your flag, with five rows of six stars, each rectilinear, but on a blue field only, meaning there were no red and white stripes. Bridgman’s asking price at that time was $30,000. So, should you decide to sell it, both of these antique flag houses are a good place to start!
It’s a good thing that you searched through that bag of linens before donating it to charity! Your mother and grandmother preserved a rare banner of American history. Don’t be concerned about the stains or holes in this beauty. It is still valuable and desirable to a collector or museum. I’d advise not to make any attempt to clean or repair it, but do guard it from sunlight, moisture, and temperature extremes, until you have it examined by one of the experts I listed above. Thank you for sharing this American icon with me and the readers of The Catoctin Banner!
If you’d like to discover the history behind and value of your heirloom, attic find, flea market or yard sale purchase, collectible, or antique item, don’t forget to send in a photo and description of your trinket or treasure to tomandlisa@wildblue.net. Your piece could be featured in an upcoming issue of The Catoctin Banner.
