Frame Size (H x L): 19.5” x 24.5”
Flag Size (H x L): 11” x 16.5”

Offered is a thirty-one star flag with a spectacular grand luminary configuration and a “MINNESOTA” overprint. It was waved at the 1860 Republican National Convention, held at the Wigwam, in which the party nominated Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate.

Political flags are the most desirable of all flags—particularly those related to legendary leaders, such as Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ulysses S. Grant. The first political campaign flags were made in 1840 and were associated with the William Henry Harrison campaign. In 1890, a bill was introduced that attempted to prevent the desecration of the flag by printing, painting, or advertising for public display or private gain. The bill failed. In 1895, a similar bill was introduced, but likewise failed. Finally, in 1905, a bill passed outlawing the use of marks and portraits on the flag, coat of arms, and other insignia of the United States. With this background in mind, political flags are especially difficult to acquire, because they were only made between 1840 and 1905. And in reality, most examples that surface are from a narrower time frame between 1860 and 1890.

Lincoln related flags are the crème de la crème of political flags. For sure, there are rarer flags, such as those related to the Polk campaign in 1844, the Scott campaign in 1852, and the Buchanan campaign in 1856, to name just a few examples. But also for sure, no president—perhaps no person in American history, civil servant or otherwise—is as universally loved, adored, and admired as Lincoln. In turn, flags related to him are in a category all their own.

OTHER WIGWAM FLAGS
Including the flag offered herein, we are aware of seventeen Wigwam flags still in existence, all of which are made in the exact same manner and style. By order of statehood, the following such examples still exist: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, California, Minnesota (i.e., the flag offered herein), and Oregon. Oregon was admitted as a state on February 14^th, 1859, just a few months before the 1860 Republican National Convention, held from May 16^th to 18^th. The next state, Kansas, was admitted on January 29^th, 1861, several months after the Convention. In turn, because there is an Oregon flag (i.e., 1859 statehood) and there is not a Kansas flag (i.e., 1861 statehood), the Wigwam flags—just as expected—thread the needle and align with 1860, the year of the Convention.

From a research perspective, several of the Wigwam flags are particularly noteworthy, including the Oregon, Delaware, Tennessee, Florida, and Arkansas flags.

The Oregon, Delaware, and Tennessee flags surfaced in Rex Starks’ Auction #3, which closed on September 13^th, 1982. They were offered as lots 1005-1007, and Stark described them as follows:

Group of flags approx. 11 x 14, printed oil-cloth, used at the Republican Wigwam 1860 Convention. Originally part of a large group of state flags found with a Lincoln-Hamlin flag and a group of paper items, tally sheets, and convention records from Wigwam. Generally excellent condition, rare group directly associated with Lincoln’s first nomination.

Next, the Florida flag surfaced in Stuart Schneider’s “Collecting Lincoln” and is featured on page 46 therein. Schneider described it as follows:

FLAG. Ca. 1860. This Florida flag identified the delegates from Florida at the Republican Convention at the Wigwam in 1860. It was found with a group, from several states, that had been used at the convention and saved. 12 x 16 inches. From the Howard Hazelcorn Collection.

Hake’s Auctions recently sold the Florida flag, on March 15^th, 2022, for just north of $25k. Unfortunately, we were the underbidder, instead of the winner, on this particular lot.

Finally, the Arkansas flag is held via the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, as item #GLC05523. Gilder led Gilder, Gagnon, Howe & Co, a brokerage firm specializing in trading leveraged stocks and short selling, while Lehrman is a senior partner at L. E. Lehrman & Co., an investment firm. The Gilder Lehrman Institute’s collection holds more than 70,000 items, spanning 500 years of American history. On one end of the time spectrum, it holds a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 describing the New World. And on the other end, it holds solders’ letters written during World War II and Vietnam. It describes the Arkansas flag as follows:

Cotton Arkansas state flag with red and white stripes and blue field with stars; “ARKANSAS.” painted in black at center. Accompanied by a much later note reading “[From the] Wigwam Convention 1860 – Chicago. State flag for Abraham Lincoln.”

OTHER RELATED FLAGS
The Wigwam flags are notably similar to several other flags, including the following:

First, there is a thirty-star flag that dates to 1848, which includes a “VERGINIA” overprint (i.e., Virginia is misspelled). This flag was likely waved at the Free Soil Party Convention in 1848. This flag is notably similar, because—like the Wigwam flags—it includes the very unusual feature of a state overprint, is printed in a similar manner, and on the same base material. The flag’s maker is listed, on the flag itself, as “E.C. Williams, Flag and Tent Maker, 12 Buffalo St, Rochester.” Because this thirty-star flag and the Wigwam flags are so unusual, yet in some ways so similar, it is fair to suggest that E.C. Williams may have also made the Wigwam flags or that he may have inspired whoever made them.

Second, there is a thirty-one star Fremont and Dayton campaign flag that dates to 1856, which is nearly identical to the Wigwam flags in its star configuration, printing, and base material. It is featured as item #259 in the Threads of History. This flag and the Wigwam flags are so similar that they almost certainly trace back to the same maker.

Third, there is a trio of Lincoln and Hamlin campaign flags that date to 1860, which are also nearly identical to the Wigwam flags in their star configuration, printing, and base material. They are featured as items #294, #295, and #296. These flags and the Wigwams flags are so similar that they almost certainly trace back to the same maker. Interestingly, Heritage Auctions noted, in 2016, that the design showcased via item #296 was specifically produced for, and available at, the Wigwam Convention. We believe—but do not know for sure—that item #296 may be the flag referenced in Rex Starks’ Auction #3, discussed herein.

STAR CONFIGURATION
This flag’s stars are arranged in a "Great Star" pattern, one of the rarest and most beautiful configurations encountered in antique flags (note it can also be referred to as a grand luminary pattern). The Great Star pattern is a large star made of smaller stars. Such a pattern was perfectly acceptable, as prior to President Taft's Executive Order 1556 in 1912, flag makers were free to place the stars however they wished. In this Great Star pattern, the overall large star is uniquely and beautifully canted to the 1:00 position. The overall large star has five arms, and stars are positioned therebetween. In total, the configuration includes thirty-one stars, twenty-six in the overall large star and five between its arms. The individual stars are all the same size.

US Naval Captain Samuel Reid is credited with designing the Great Star pattern in 1818. Captain Reid was an officer in the US Navy and commanded the privateer General Armstrong during the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson credited Captain Reid's heroism in delaying the British Squadron in the Battle of Fayal, and in aiding in General Jackson's defense of New Orleans. Captain Reid and his crew were greeted as heroes.

The Second Flag Act, passed in 1794, stated that the flag would have fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, in response to Vermont and Kentucky being added to the Union. Knowing that this approach would not be sustainable, with Captain Reid's help, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818. It specified that the flag should only have thirteen stripes and a star for each state admitted to the Union. It further specified that the addition of each star should be on the Fourth of July following its respective state's admission.

Captain Reid played a significant role in the Flag Act of 1818. He recommended a basic design of thirteen horizontal alternating stripes in honor of the thirteen colonies, and a star in honor of each state. He further recommended several potential star patterns, including twenty stars in the shape of a larger star for general use. Reid suggested this pattern to make the flag consistent and easily identifiable, particularly at long distances and at sea. His star pattern recommendation was not ultimately included in the Act, nor was any star pattern, but Captain Reid is universally credited with designing the Great Star pattern. Its use peaked in the 1840s, but it was also used during the Civil War and occasionally during Centennial Celebrations. Its last known commercial use was on thirty-eight star flags.

STAR COUNT
Flags related to the presidential election of 1860 have surfaced in several different star counts, including thirty-one, three-three, and thirty-five stars (among others). In 1860, the official star count was thirty-three. As such, this is the most common and logical count for an 1860 political flag. However, the use of thirty-one star flags in 1860, including the Wigwam flags, can be easily and logically explained via the following three theories.

First, they may have been leftovers from (1) 1850 to 1858 generally or (2) the 1856 presidential election specifically, for use at political rallies. In a time of frugality, like in the 1850s and 60s, a maker would sell whatever was available—even if what was available was a leftover flag with an earlier star count.

Second, these lower star counts may have been made with older printing blocks. Cutting blocks was an arduous task. Thus, makers used older blocks in later years, both to save time and to minimize the effort associated with making new ones.

Third, there was a general randomness with respect to star counts in 19^th century flags, more so with flags dating to 1870 and earlier, and less so with flags dating to 1870 and later. Neither makers nor buyers were particularly disciplined with respect to star counts, perhaps in part because the star count changed so frequently in the 19^th century, and also perhaps in part because early flags were crude in every respect, the star count being no different.

The flag offered herein has thirty-one stars, likely because of one of these three theories. Under the first theory, this flag may have been made between 1850 and 1858, and then left in storage until it was overprinted in 1860 and distributed. Under the second and third theories, this flag may have been made in its entirety in 1860. As viewed from these outer bounds, the underlying flag offered herein would date to between 1850 and 1860. And in any event, the overprint would have been applied in 1860 (i.e., after the flag was taken from storage or immediately after the flag was printed, depending on the circumstances).

Thirty-one star flags are extremely rare, in part because they were official for only eight years between 1850 and 1858. Flags predating 1861, the time at which the Civil War began, are the rarest and most desirable to collectors. Prior thereto, Americans did not typically display flags for patriotic purposes. Because this cultural turning point did not occur until 1861, flags made prior thereto account for only around 1-in-100 flags made in the 19^th century as a whole.

The thirty-one star flag represents California’s admission to the Union. California was admitted on September 9^th, 1850, and this flag became official on July 4^th, 1851. The thirty-one star flag was official until July 4^th, 1858, the time at which the thirty-two star flag became official and began to represent the inclusion of Minnesota in the Union. Because of California’s size, importance, and wealth, thirty-one star flags are amongst the most desirable of the star counts that surface.

CONSTRUCTION
The flag offered herein is printed on glazed cotton. Its stripes and canton are block stamped. The canton is a rich blue and the stripes are closer to orange than red. The orange is a result of the use of either madder or cochineal to create the red dye. Such dye was commonly used to make flags between 1850 and 1880. The First Flag Act of 1777 specified the flag’s general colors, but it did not specify the exact shades thereof. For this reason, some flags—like this one—have unusual colors, per the modern eye. The exact shades were not officially specified until 1934.

The “MINNESOTA” overprint is hand painted—yet carefully, attractively, and professionally applied—in black, across the stripes. This means that the blue canton and red stripes were applied first, and then the textual overprint was added second and separately. This is the most common technique, timing wise, and leaves open the possibility that a flag might have been made at one time and the hand painted overprint might have been made at a later time, like before or during the Convention in the case of the flag offered herein. Hand painting an overprint is quite unusual. Almost without exception, overprints are either professionally stamped or crudely added via pencil or dip pen (e.g., often to denote either the owner or the time at which the flag was waved).

1860 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
The 1860 Republican National Convention was held from May 16^th to 18^th. Its primary purpose was to nominate a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate. Abraham Lincoln of Illinois received the former nomination and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine received the latter.

The Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, chosen for its burgeoning importance as a trade center. It did not have a meeting hall large enough for the Convention, so a temporary wood-frame assembly hall was built specifically for it. The hall was referred to as the Wigwam, and it could seat 10,000 people, which—for this occasion—was a combination of delegates, guests, and observers. The design of the Wigwam ensured that the Convention’s attendees would be able to hear the speakers and also be able to see them without having obstructions in their way.

Prior to the Convention, Senator William H. Seward of New York was the frontrunner. However, Lincoln, Governor Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, former Representative Edward Bates of Missouri, and Senator Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania were also serious contenders. In the first ballot, Seward led but did not receive a majority vote. Lincoln followed him in second place. In the second ballot, Cameron’s delegates shifted to Lincoln and bumped him into a tie with Seward. In the third ballot, the other delegates shifted their support from their first choice candidates to Lincoln (instead of Seward), and Lincoln clinched the nomination. Hamlin was nominated on the second vice-presidential ballot, wherein he defeated Cassius Clay of Kentucky, among others.

The Lincoln-Hamlin ticket won the 1860 general election. In 1861, Lincoln nominated Seward, Chase, Bates, and Cameron to his cabinet, which is discussed at length in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s landmark text, the Team of Rivals.

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: This offering is in an American ripple frame with a dark brown outer layer and a gilt inner liner. Such frames were inspired by Dutch ripple frames and were made starting in 1850.

Condition Report: There are stains running along the fly edge. This flag was likely rolled up and placed into storage, leaving a strip open to the elements. Such stains are common in antique parade flags. There are stains in the white stripe under the canton and near the hoist edge. There are also stains running along the bottom white stripe, also near the hoist edge. There is light staining across the surface, but such stains are quite common, age appropriate, and arguably attractive. The stains are darker in the photos than in person. Overall, this flag presents very well and is amongst the very best flags in existence.

Collectability Level: The Extraordinary – Museum Quality Offerings
Date of Origin: 1860
Number of Stars: 31
Associated State: California