Frame Size (H x L): 14” x 17”
Flag Size (H x L): 8.25” x 11.5”

Offered is an antique 34-star American flag trade card, printed on paper, featuring a bold red, white, and blue design from the Civil War era. The canton, positioned in the upper left corner, contains 34 white stars arranged in rows on a deep blue field, representing the number of states in the Union at the time. The flag's stripes alternate between red and white, maintaining the traditional American flag pattern.

OVERPRINT AND ADVERTISING
Overprinted on the flag is an advertisement for A. J. Husted, Segars & Tobacco, a Philadelphia-based tobacconist. The text reads: "FROM A. J. HUSTED, SEGARS & TOBACCO, N.E. cor. Third & Chestnut Sts." The typography varies, with "SEGARS & TOBACCO" prominently displayed in bold, block-style lettering. The use of a patriotic symbol for commercial branding reflects 19th-century marketing strategies, where businesses often incorporated national imagery to appeal to customers.

This trade card is unusually large, measuring approximately 8 x 11 inches, whereas most 19th-century trade cards were small-format pieces around 3 x 5 inches. Its impressive size would have made it more eye-catching and likely meant it was displayed prominently rather than simply handed out like standard trade cards.

This flag is presented in the form of a large-scale trade card, an early type of advertising widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries. Businesses distributed these printed cards to promote their products or services, often including company names, locations, and decorative designs. Printed on thick paper, trade cards functioned as both advertisements and business cards. By the mid-19th century, advances in lithography allowed for more elaborate and colorful designs, making trade cards a popular marketing tool across various industries. Many have survived due to the widespread practice of collecting them, preserving artifacts like this one for historical study.

Despite the popularity of trade cards, this is the only example of this A. J. Husted trade card that we have ever seen, making it an exceptionally rare survivor.

A. J. HUSTED
Andrew J. Husted was a Philadelphia-based tobacconist and cigarmaker active in the mid-to-late 19th century. His business was located at the northeast corner of Third and Chestnut Streets, a commercial district in Philadelphia. City directories list him as a dealer in cigars and tobacco, a growing trade at the time. By 1871, he was still active in the industry, but by 1882, records show that his cigar store at 737 Front Street had changed hands, marking the end of his business operations.

Beyond his tobacco trade, Husted was associated with Husted’s Station, a small stop along the West Jersey Railroad in Cumberland County, New Jersey. His father, Dayton B. Husted, provided the land for the station when the railroad was built in the 1860s, and Andrew served as the station agent for many years. His role there reflects his connection to both Philadelphia’s commercial sector and regional transportation networks.

Husted died in 1891 when he was struck by a train near Husted’s Station. His deafness likely prevented him from hearing the oncoming locomotive, and his death was ruled accidental. Though his business and railroad involvement ended with his passing, this trade card remains as a tangible record of his work in 19th-century commerce.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE THIRTY-FOUR STAR FLAG
The 34-star flag represents an important period in American history, marking the admission of Kansas as the 34th state on January 29, 1861. It became the official U.S. flag on July 4, 1861, just months after the Civil War began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. President Abraham Lincoln served under this flag during the early years of the war, and its design continued to include all Union states, even those in rebellion.

Flag makers began producing 34-star flags as early as January 1861, well before the official adoption. These flags were flown during the war’s early years, including major battles like Antietam (1862) and Gettysburg (1863). The 34-star flag remained in use until July 4, 1863, when the 35-star flag was introduced following the admission of West Virginia to the Union.

Both the 34-star and 35-star flags are closely associated with Lincoln’s leadership and the Union’s efforts to preserve the nation. They remain highly sought after by collectors and historians due to their connection to the Civil War and their symbolic representation of national unity.

This example, featuring an advertising overprint for A. J. Husted’s Segars & Tobacco, blends commerce with patriotism, reflecting a time when businesses used national symbols to connect with customers. Its rarity and large format make it a highly significant artifact from the Civil War era, offering insight into both the tobacco trade and 19th-century American history.

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

Frame: The frame is a Dutch ripple frame from around 1860, featuring carved, undulating moldings. Its distinct design was popular for adding depth and detail to framed pieces of the period.

Condition Report: The flag trade card exhibits some small tears and areas of paper loss, consistent with its age and historical use. A professional paper conservator stabilized the piece, reinforcing its structure and preventing further deterioration. Conservation efforts also included subtle treatments to visually integrate the missing areas, allowing the flag’s design and printed overprint to remain the focal point.

Collectability Level: The Best – Perfect for Advanced Collectors  
Date of Origin: 1861-1863 
Number of Stars: 34
Associated War: The Civil War (1861-1865) 
Associated State: Kansas