Price: Call 618-553-2291, or email info@bonsellamericana.com
Frame Size (H x L): 25” x 34”
Flag Size (H x L): 14.5” x 23”

Offered is an incredible thirty-star flag, printed on coarse, glazed cotton.  Thirty-star flags are extremely rare, both because they were official for only three years and because they were pre-Civil War flags.  There may be fewer than ten remaining examples of this flag, and almost certainly fewer than fifteen.   

Flags predating the Civil War time period (1861-1865) are the rarest and most desirable of all US flags.  Prior to the Civil War, Americans did not typically display flags for patriotic purposes.  And likewise the military did not regularly use the flag, as it was not until 1834 that the army field artillery was permitted to carry the traditional US flag, and it was not until 1841 that regiments carried it.  For these reasons, flags made prior to the Civil War account for only around 1-in-100 flags made in the 19th century.    

This flag was likely waved at a campaign rally associated with the election of 1848.  Zachary Taylor, a member of the Whig Party, won the election, in which he ran against Lewis Cass, a member of the Democratic Party, and Martin Van Buren, a member of the Free Soil Party.  Zachary Taylor easily won the election, in large part because of his success as a General in the Mexican-American War.  His political beliefs were mostly vague in nature, but he did firmly believe in preserving the Union as tensions around slavery grew.  He died just seventeen months into his term, and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore.  

The stars of this flag are arranged in a gorgeous and highly desirable medallion pattern.  This particular medallion includes a large star in the middle, two rings of stars surrounding the large star, and a flanking star in each corner surrounding the rings.  The majority of medallion pattern flags date to between 1861 and 1876.  Beginning in the 1890s, the beautiful medallion patterns became less common, and linear arrangements became the norm.  Why this occurred is unclear, as flag makers had the freedom to place the stars however they liked until 1912, when President Taft issued Executive Order 1556 establishing the arrangement of the stars into rectilinear rows.       

The large canted star in the middle is sometimes referred to as a “center star.”  A center star is different than a great star, a term used to describe a star made up of smaller stars.  A center star is almost always positioned in the very middle of the canton.  The rest of the stars are then positioned around the center star, and form various different patterns.  The center star represents the newest state added to the Union (e.g., Wisconsin in the case of this thirty-star flag). 

Notice that the large center star includes two parts: a bold center star and a surrounding halo.  Haloed flags are extremely attractive and collectible.  The maker of this flag is unknown, but it is clear that the same company produced most, if not all, haloed flags, including flags with thirty, thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six, and forty-two stars.  The very earliest printed flags are twenty-six star flags.  The twenty-six star flags were produced between 1837 and 1845, meaning that this thirty-star flag is only a few years newer than the very earliest of all printed flags. 

As noted above, the thirty-star flag represents the inclusion of Wisconsin to the Union.  Wisconsin was admitted on May 29th, 1848, and this flag became official on July 4th, 1848.  The thirty star flag was official until July 4th, 1851, the time at which the thirty-one star flag became official and began to represent the inclusion of California in the Union.

In conclusion, this rare and exceptionally well-preserved thirty-star flag captures the spirit of an evolving nation. Created at the dawn of the sectional crisis that would culminate in the Civil War, it represents a fleeting moment of unity before the deep divisions over slavery erupted into conflict. Given its pre-Civil War date, medallion star configuration, printed cotton construction, and haloed center star, this flag stands as one of the most desirable and historically significant thirty-star flags in existence.

Conservation Process: This flag was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the flag, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The flag is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: The flag is housed in a custom black wood frame with a wide, flat profile that features a visible wood grain, adding subtle texture and depth. The deep black finish contrasts beautifully with the flag’s aged colors, enhancing its visual impact.

Condition Report: The flag exhibits signs of age and wear consistent with its mid-nineteenth-century origin, including areas of discoloration, staining, and fading. Some fabric loss is present, though it has been carefully masked with cotton placed beneath affected portions to maintain its visual integrity. The colors, while softened over time, remain distinguishable, with the blue canton and red stripes exhibiting a warm, aged patina.

Collectability Level: The Best – Perfect for Advanced Collectors 
Date of Origin: 1848-1851 
Number of Stars: 30
Associated State: Wisconsin