Frame Size (H x L): 11.5” x 8”
Flag Size (H x L): 2.5” x 3” and Affixed to a 6.5”

Offered is a thirty-three star flag noisemaker. The flag is printed on metal and affixed to a staff. The staff includes a wooden handle, a metal staff, a metal gear, and a metal finial. The flag is free to rotate about the staff—or, more specifically, about the metal gear—so as to make a clicking sound when waved back-and-forth. It is the first nineteenth century flag noisemaker that we have encountered.

It includes the following overprint:

PARTRIDGE & RICHARDSON
BEE HIVE STORE,
17 N. Eighth Street, Philad’a.

PARTRIDGE & RICHARDSON was a trimming house that began on 17 North Eighth Street in Philadelphia. It sold fringes, button, ornaments, laces, zephyr goods, upholstery goods, and fancy goods, among other things. It was founded in 1852 and sold to Strawbridge & Clothier in 1904. The reference to “bee-hive” in this context is a reference to a busy place of business, and perhaps also a reference to the PATRIDGE & RICHARDSON building’s appearance, in that it resembled a beehive. Describing a store as a “bee-hive store” was somewhat common during the nineteenth century and, to a certain degree, during the beginning of the twentieth century.

The star pattern of this flag can be described as a 6-6-6-5-5-5 pattern with a clear notch running along the bottom right edge of the canton. It is the first time that we have encountered a flag with this configuration, likely because most makers would place the stars, in this count, in a more balanced arrangement, such as a 6-5-6-5-6-5 pattern and/or a staggered pattern. But here, the maker likely left a clear notch in anticipation of additional states. At the time this flag was made, sometime in either 1859 or 1860 or 1861, it was clear that additional states would be joining the Union and indeed Kansas, West Virginia, and Nevada soon did so. As such, the maker of this flag could have easily reworked his stamp (in contrast to having to make a new stamp), so as to add stars for these three additional states.

The thirty-three star flag represents the inclusion of Oregon to the Union. Oregon was admitted on February 14th, 1859, and this star count became official on July 4th, 1859. Use of the thirty-three star flag overlapped the beginning of the Civil War, as evidenced by, for example, a thirty-three star flag being flown at Fort Sumter when Confederate soldiers attacked it. Flags associated with the Civil War time period are among the rarest and most collectible of all antique flags. Prior to the Civil War, Americans did not typically display flags for patriotic purposes, and even the military did not regularly use it. Instead, most flags prior to the Civil War were used to mark ships and were massive in scale. The surge in small US flags for patriotic purposes began with the election of Lincoln and the onset of the Civil War.

The thirty-three star flag was official until July 4th, 1861, the time at which the thirty-four star flag became official and began to represent the inclusion of Kansas in the Union.

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 lemon-gold gilded frame dates to approximately 1850.

Condition Report: There is light toning across the surface. There are also small, minor scratches across the surface. The flag is age appropriate and attractive.

Collectability Level: The Great – Perfect for Rising Collectors
Date of Origin: 1859-1861
Number of Stars: 33
Associated War: Pre-Civil War
Associated State: Oregon