Frame Size (H x L): 46” x 33”
Banner Size (H x L): 35” x 22”

Offered is an outstanding Ohio banner. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the stars and stripes maintained a patriotic monopoly. Thus, finding state flags and banners that date to this time period is exceedingly difficult, and such items are highly desirable. This banner falls into this highly desirable category, makes a dramatic statement, and includes great imagery.

The top third of the banner is blue. It includes an “OHIO” overprint in all caps, and “OHIO” is surrounded by seventeen stars. Thirteen of the stars are in the shape of an ellipse and represent the original states, while the other stars flank the ellipse and represent the states of Vermont, admitted in 1791; Kentucky, admitted in 1792; Tennessee admitted in 1796; and Ohio, admitted in 1803.

Thomas Jefferson endorsed Congress’s decision to grant statehood, and Chillicothe became Ohio’s first capital in that same year. Interestingly, Congress never ratified the state’s constitution, a necessary step towards a proper grant of statehood. Without such a ratification, Ohio was technically still part of the Northwest Territory. In early 1953, Representative George H. Bender introduced legislation to Congress to retroactively grant statehood to Ohio. Later that same year, the legislation was approved and signed into law by Dwight D. Eisenhower—one hundred and fifty years after Ohio’s original grant of statehood.

The bottom two-thirds of this banner include thirteen red and white stripes, which—like the ellipse—represent the original states. The bottom also includes a blue monochromatic Ohio seal, and the seal is set upon a red circle.

Ohio has had at least ten different seals. The first constitution of Ohio, which went into effect on March 1st, 1803, included a provision related to the first state seal, but did not specify its form. William Creighton, Secretary of State, is credited with designing the first seal, drawing inspiration from a view from U.S. Senator Thomas Worthington’s estate, referred to as Adena and located near Chillicothe. Per Ohio legend, following a night long discussion related to the form of the seal, among many other things, Creighton and Thomas were admiring the rise of the sun behind the Mount Logan Range when Creighton said, “The rising sun of the new state!” From this excitement, Creighton had the epiphany for the foundation for the seal, and he built upon it with other Ohio inspired imagery. Legislation in 1803 described Creighton’s seal as follows:

On which seals shall be engraved the following device: On the right side, near the bottom, a sheaf of wheat, and on the left a bundle of seventeen arrows, both standing erect; in the background and rising above the sheaf and bundle of arrows, a mountain over which shall appear a rising sun, the state seal to be surrounded these words: “The Great Seal of the State of Ohio.”

The 1803 legislation further outlined that the state seal was supposed to be two inches in diameter. The original engraver departed slightly from the legislation. Despite the explicit reference to one mountain, he included three. Despite there being no reference to a river, he included one at the base of the mountains.

The 1803 legislation was replaced with identical terms in 1805, minus references therein to the seal, which were completely absent. The 1805 legislation was repealed, in its entirety, in 1831. In 1865, William Henry Smith, a Secretary of State, issued a report that the seal needed to be redefined. Further, he reported a need to match the size, consistency, and attractiveness of the other states’ seals. From this, legislation in 1866 described a new seal as follows:

The coat-of-arms of the State of Ohio shall consist of the following device: A shield, upon which shall be engraved on the left in the foreground, a bundle of seventeen arrows; to the right of the arrows, a sheaf of wheat, both standing erect; in the background, and rising above the sheaf and arrows, a range of mountains, over which shall appear a rising sun; between the base of the mountains and the arrows and the sheaf, in the left foreground, a river shall be represented flowing toward the right foreground. At the bottom of the shield there shall be a motto, in these words: "Imperium in imperio."

The 1866 legislation further outlined that the state seal was supposed to be two and one-half inches in diameter (i.e., a half inch larger than before). The seventeen arrows represent Native Americans and additionally represent Ohio as the seventeenth state. The sheaf of wheat symbolizes agriculture and its importance to the state’s economy and heritage. The center mountain represents Mount Logan. The rising sun represents Ohio’s rise in strength and power, and the thirteen rays thereof represent the original states. Finally, the river symbolizes either the Ohio river or the Scioto river (i.e., the accounts vary).

The motto “imperium in imperio” translates to “a state within a state” or “a power within a power.” It was chosen to extol the state’s grandeur. However, before, during, and following the Civil War, this was also a controversial reference to the states’ rights doctrine. The Southern states used the doctrine, so as to argue (ironically) that federal law banning slavery discriminated against the slave states and downgraded them to a second-class status. Due in part to this controversy, legislation in 1868 described yet another new seal as follows:

That the coat-of-arms of the State of Ohio shall consist of the following device: A shield, in form of a circle. On it, in the foreground, on the right, a sheaf of wheat; on the left, a bundle of seventeen arrows, both standing erect; in the background, and rising above the sheaf and arrows, a mountain range, over which shall appear a rising sun.

In general respects, the 1868 legislation restored the 1803 seal and, in doing this, removed the motto. Despite this, the 1866 seal was used regularly throughout the nineteenth century and even in the twentieth century. Thus, items featuring this seal—such as the banner offered herein—do not necessarily trace back to between 1866 and 1868. Rather, they trace back to between 1866 and the early 1900s. And specifically, because the pigments of this banner align so closely to the pigments used in forty-four and forty-five star flags—when viewed solely from this perspective—this banner seems to date to between 1890 and 1905.

Despite this, in view of the many historic events that happened in Ohio between 1888 and 1910, we conservatively date this banner to this wider range, being that it could have been logically displayed at the Cincinnati Centennial Exposition in 1888, the Ohio Centennial Exposition in 1888 (in reference to Ohio’s first settlers), the Ohio Centennial Celebration in 1903 (in reference to Ohio’s statehood), or the Wilmington and Clinton County Centennial in 1910, to name just a few examples. Such events were very patriotic—much like the Fourth of July today.

Alternatively, this banner could have been displayed at the Pan-American Exposition, in 1901, in Buffalo, New York. The Exposition’s focus was distinctly all-American (in contrast the World Fairs). Of particular importance to this discussion, the Exposition had an “Ohio Day” and the program related thereto included the 1866 seal (rather than the 1868 seal). The Ohio Day included music by the Eighth Regiment Band, invocations, welcomes, and addressees—including one by Ohio Governor George K. Nash. Ohio was touted at the Exposition as the “Mother of Presidents,” including the current president at the time, William McKinley. Tragically and incredibly, McKinley was shot later in the year at the Exposition and died approximately two weeks following his visit.

The Exposition included numerous structures, including the “Ohio Building,” designed by Cleveland architect John Eisenmann. In designing this structure, he also designed a swallow-tailed flag to represent Ohio and flew one such flag over each corner thereof. When Governor Nash visited the Exposition, one of the flags was presented to him. It is now in the Ohio History Connection Collection. Following the Exposition, William S. McKinnon, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the commissioner of the Ohio Building, introduced a bill to make it the official state flag. It was adopted in 1902.

Because the Exposition had an Ohio Day, had an Ohio Building, had a program featuring the 1866 seal, and introduced the Ohio flag, it is logical that this banner—or at least banners of this general nature—would have been on display at the Exposition. And in any event, regardless of where this banner may have flown, it is a rare, dramatic, state related textile. It would be a statement piece in any collection.

Conservation Process: This banner 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 banner, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash. The banner is positioned behind Conservation Clear Acrylic (standard) or behind Optium Museum Acrylic (per request).

Frame: This offering is in our Large Distressed Black and Gold Frame.

Condition: This banner exhibits age appropriate staining and fading. There are several period printing areas across the approximate top third of the banner (i.e., across “OHIO” and portions of the blue). In other respects, it is in excellent condition and the cleanest example that we have encountered.

Collectability Level: The Best – Perfect for Advanced Collectors
Date of Origin: 1888-1910