49 Star Flag flown over State Capital

[plummerak]

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if I could get someones expert opinion and valuation on a 49 Star 5x8 BullDog Dettra flag, flown over the State Capitol July 29, 1959. I have a signed document from the Architect of the Capitol, J. George, Stewart with carbon copy. It was to a (D) Congressmen Samuel Friedel of Maryland.
I am certian these are very Rare. I will add pictures if I can figure out how to post them. I would love some history on this flag if anyones got any.
Thank you for taking the time and grateful for any feedback.
Smiles!

[csaanv]

Hi Plummerak,
if you want to email me the photos I can prepare them and post them for you.
I am at: emmalpass(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cheers,
Mike

[plummerak]

Okay I think I got posting the pictures right. If they don't come out I will try again.
I forgot to mention, that the flag did come in a box with a number and the name of the Congressman.

Pictures by plummerak - Photobucket

Thank you!
Smiles

[Robin Hickman]

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The very first "thread" in this Forum (Flag Identification and Collecting) is a "sticky" (it's always the first entry) titled, "How to include a photo in your posts". In the entry, American_Flag_UK (Amanda) explains step-by-step how to include a photo in your posts. The entry was made in July, 2008 and it still works.

Here's a link to it : http://www.usa-flag-site.org/forum/how-to-include-photo-your-posts-2820.html


In May, 2009, I did a slightly altered version of it to show how one could include the photos as an actual part of a thread reply.

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/forum/45-star-flag-1902-a-846-2.html


Since then, I have found another (much simpler) way of including a photo as part of a reply. It doesn't always work in every situation but it seems to work in most situations. It is the simple "Copy/Paste" method, but the photo has to be showing somewhere else first.

Just highlight the picture, right-click on it to bring up the sub-menu and select the "COPY" option. The find the location in your entry where you want to place the picture and LEFT-click there to put the flashing cursor, then right-click and select the "PASTE" option, OR hit the "Ctrl" and "V" keys on your keyboard.

I'll go find your photos on your other entry for this.








SEE ???


NO FUSS! NO MUSS!




Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA

[Robin Hickman]

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Hello, PlummerAK !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-Site Forums !


Please note that the Flag's certificate shows that the Flag in question was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and NOT over the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (BIG difference!)

49-Star American Flags were "official" for only one year so they are relatively "rare", especially when compared with the 48-Star (47 years) and our current 50-Star (50+ years and counting) Flags.

The 5'x8' size of your Flag is much rarer than the more common ("standard") 3'x5' size Flags. Although I am not an antique flag collector, I have read several statements on this site that collectors seem to prefer smaller sized flags as they are easier to "show" and store. What is considered "smaller" I don't know.

The Dettra Flag Company no longer exists as it was bought by Annin & Co. in the mid-1990's.

To possibly give you some idea as to the approximate "market value" (at least on eBay) of your Flag, you can do an eBay "Completed Listings" search. The "RED" prices means the item did NOT sell and the "GREEN" listings DID sell.

"49-Star" +FLAG :

http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=%2249-Star%22+Flag&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_okw=%2249-Star%22+Flag&_oexkw=&_adv=1&LH_Complete=1&_udlo=&_ udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=200&_fpos=Zip+code &_fsct=&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=10&_dmd=1&_ipg=200 &_rdc=1



"49-Stars" +Flag :

http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=%2249-Stars%22+Flag&_sacat=0&_sop=10&_dmd=1&LH_Complete= 1&_odkw=%2249-Star%22+Flag&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313


In BOTH of the above searches the results are for the previous 15 days.


There are, of course, a number of factors to consider when attempting to place a "value" on a Flag such as yours. There are some very experienced expert members here and I'm sure you'll be getting some of their opinions. They might also have some additional questions for you about your Flag.


GOOD LUCK !!!


Thank You for bringing your Flag-related question to our Forums!




Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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[Robin Hickman]

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The "COPY/PASTE" method of posting pictures here.

Pictures are "Copy/Pasted" from : http://s1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee387/plummerak/?start=all









Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
.

[NAVA1974]

I was wondering if I could get someones expert opinion and valuation on a 49 Star 5x8 BullDog Dettra flag, flown over the State [sic] Capitol July 29, 1959. I have a signed document from the Architect of the Capitol, J. George, Stewart with carbon copy. It was to a (D) Congressmen Samuel Friedel of Maryland.

Thanks to Robin for posting the pictures. 49-star flags are not rare. Even though they were only official for one year, flagmakers produced quite a number of them, and most were set aside by people who knew that the 50-star flag would supersede the 49's in less than a year. Most 49 star flags are still in fairly good shape, often "mint in box" or "new old stock" condition.

That being said, 49's are popular among collectors and command a premium over most 48-star flags, even on eBay. And I do believe the documentation showing that your 49-star flag was made and flown over the U.S. capitol while there were only 49 states in the Union would add to the flag's value.

48-star flags of that size generally sell for $25 to $75 while 49's can be double that range. Add your US Capitol documentation and I would double that price range again. (i.e. $100 to $300).

And yes, a $200 range is pretty wide, but it all depends on how well you describe the item, how good the photos are, and who is looking on eBay or participating in the auction at the moment can have significant influence on the winning bid.

Nick A
Columbia MD

[plummerak]

Thank you Robin for posting the pictures in the thread and for all your information! I knew the flag was flown at the US Capitol, it was just when I lived in D.C. a time ago serving in the USAF Honor Guard, we called it the State Capitol. I was so excited about posting, I didn't even think twice about it.

What great information! And I am excited about having a flag that flew over the US Capitol in 1959. Thank you Nick for all your insight and thoughts on this flag. I sure do appreciate places like this, to instantly get help and information.

Thanks Mike for your offer to help, I am not getting the email notifications when someone has posted on the thread, so I didn't get it until after Robin posted the 'know-how'.

Much Graditude,
Smiles!

[csaanv]

You are welcome! I never realized that the congressmen of that time handed out flags of that size. Usually they were the smaller 3' x 5'. Thank you for posting. I learned something new!

[plummerak]

CSAANV,

That is interesting to know. I would be curious too if that is the case, but the box the flag (5x8) came in has the congressman's name on it with a number. So I have every reason to believe it is legit.

I am going to try and find the congressman's next of Kin to return the flag to the family. I think that is the right thing to do. But if I have no luck, I will be selling it, so I would like to offer it here first (if I can even do that), to the collectors here who truly value this vintage piece of history.

I will keep you posted.
Thank you for the valuable informtion!
Smiles