Frame Size (H x L): 6.5” x 7.5”
Flag Size (H x L): 2.25” x 3.25”  

Offered is a thirty-eight star flag with a 6-7-6-6-7-6 configuration, presented in the form of a trade card. A trade card was an early form of advertising, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, distributed by businesses to promote their products or services. These cards were typically small, printed on thick paper, and often elaborately designed, featuring images, product descriptions, and the company’s contact information. Trade cards functioned both as advertisements and business cards, providing potential customers with promotional or informational content.

In the 19th century, trade cards gained popularity in the U.S. and Europe due to advances in lithography, which made colorful and artistic prints more accessible. Businesses across many industries—from agriculture, such as the "Orchilla Guano" card advertising a soil enricher, to clothing and machinery—used them as a key marketing tool. Trade card collecting became a widespread hobby, which is why many of these cards have survived to the present day.

The Overprint
The trade card offered here includes the following overprint:

Orchilla Guano
The Great Soil Enricher.
Will Grow Big Corn.
Improves the Quality and
Increases the Quantity of
the WHEAT; used with
Great Success on Berries,
Peach Trees and all kinds of Vegetables.
Never Fails on Grass.

R. A. Wooldridge & Co.
IMPORTERS,
64 Buchanan's Wharf, Baltimore, Md.

Orchilla guano is a type of fertilizer made from seabird droppings, primarily found on islands in tropical and subtropical regions. This nutrient-rich guano is highly effective due to its concentrations of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium—essential nutrients for plant growth. Guano has been used in agriculture for centuries, valued for its ability to improve soil fertility and boost crop yields. Its effectiveness stems from the natural processes that concentrate these valuable nutrients over time.

During the 19th century, guano played a significant role in global agriculture. Countries like the United States heavily relied on guano imports to replenish exhausted soils. Orchilla guano, sourced from the Orchilla Islands in Venezuela, became particularly popular with farmers looking to improve their corn, wheat, and other crop production. Its effectiveness made it a highly sought-after resource, and the guano trade became a significant industry, marking the "Guano Age" in agricultural history.

R. A. Wooldridge & Co.
R. A. Wooldridge & Co., located at 64 Buchanan's Wharf in Baltimore, Maryland, was a prominent importer during the 19th century, a period when Baltimore was a critical hub for trade and commerce. The company’s strategic location along the bustling waterfront enabled it to import goods like Orchilla guano efficiently, connecting domestic markets with international suppliers. Specializing in a range of imported products, R. A. Wooldridge & Co. contributed significantly to the flow of materials that supported regional agricultural and industrial sectors.

The firm gained a reputation for its reliability in ensuring the timely delivery of essential goods, becoming a key player in Baltimore’s maritime economy. Its operations were integral to the city’s growth as an industrial and commercial center, exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit of 19th-century Baltimore as it fostered international trade connections that shaped the city’s economic landscape.

Thirty-Eight Star Flags Generally
The thirty-eight star flag represents the inclusion of Colorado into the Union. Colorado was admitted on August 1st, 1876, and this flag became official on July 4th, 1877. Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, and Harrison all served under this flag. Colorado earned the nickname "The Centennial State" due to its statehood occurring just twenty-eight days after the nation's centennial. While the official U.S. flag in 1876 had thirty-seven stars, flag makers often produced anticipatory flags ahead of official changes. As a result, the thirty-eight star flag—along with the thirteen star flag—were the two flags flown during the centennial celebrations of 1876.

The nation’s centennial in 1876 sparked a wave of patriotism across the country, helping reunite its citizens. Cities large and small hosted parades and celebrations, with homes and buildings adorned in red, white, and blue. Flags became the primary symbol of national pride. The most notable event was the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia, which hosted nearly 10 million visitors over six months and showcased groundbreaking exhibits such as the Corliss Steam Engine and Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone.

The thirty-eight star flag remained official until July 4th, 1890, when the forty-three star flag replaced it to represent the inclusion of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho into the Union.

Conservation Process: This flag is positioned on a cotton rag board and behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: The frame features a rustic, wood-grain finish with a deeply textured pattern.

Condition Report: The front shows some light toning but remains in excellent overall condition. On the back, there are four small tape or glue marks, none of which are visible from the front.

Collectability Level: The Good – Perfect for Beginners and Gifts
Date of Origin: 1876-1889 
Number of Stars: 38  
Associated War: The Indian Wars (1860-1890)  
Associated State: Colorado