All sewn union jack (UK)

[coasterville]

American Flags UK will be so proud of me, I now have my third Union Jack. The latest example is a nylon 3x5 flag with the distinction that all the different color panels are sewn together instead of the all printed designs. To be fair it was marketed as their "budget" model and even came with header and grommets so it is compatible with my staff.

This particular example came from the UK, so it has that going for it as far as authenticity and provenance is concerend. £14 and does PayPal make it so easy it's scary. I feed Paypal US Dollar, and it credites the seller in Pounds. An extra £5 to have it shipped and it arrived in just 4 days including it's transatlantic flight and visits to customs offices.

I'll get some photos of it soon. Maybe I can borrow Wild Bills pole and photography skills.

[csaanv]

Hi David,
That is a great deal and even the postage was cheap! But I am surprised that it is 3' x 5'. Officially their flags are proportioned as 1:2 which would make it 3' x 6' and almost all UK flagmakers make them that way. I know there is a army version of the Union Jack that is 3'x5' but not easy to get. Can't wait to see the pics!

[coasterville]

I'd take into strong consideration it is their "budget" model.

Note also it is fitted with header and grommets, and not the rope/toggle arrangement you might expect. Maybe the 3x5 thing is to satisfy the international market, since 3x5 seems to be becoming a standardized flag size, despite the fact it may not be the correct ratio.

But, it IS an all sewn, not printed flag. Who, outside of the UK would go through the trouble to make the flag that way?

[wild-bill]

Yes David I'm looking forward to seeing photos of it.

[Robin Hickman]

...

WHO is/was the eBay seller???

I'm only asking so that others who might like to buy the same flag would know who to look for...

THANX !!!


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
...

[coasterville]

Okay, here is the whole deal:

The eBay seller is actually a eBay UK seller, don't worry your same login will work.

Here is the listing so you can have at it:
ALL SEWN UNION JACK FLAG. British flag 5x3 QUALITY FLAG | eBay

Be forewarned the following paragraph was added AFTER my auction closed, probably in response to some feedback the seller had gotten from another winner regarding imperfections in the workmanship of the flag:

Whilst strong the flags are still budget flags and are vulnerable where they are stitched and at the brass grommits, we would recommend taking them down at night and in windy weather. They are stronger than the printed polyester flags we sell but are still obviously cheaper than the more expensive grade flags which cost £60+

.

This seller is Flag Man UK (not to be confused with Mr. Flag, whose flags are considerably more expensive, and I bet higher quality as well)

As I mentioned, PayPal makes the international transaction so easy it is scary.

Now, some thought on the flag, it is a Nylon flag, and doing a side by side feel test (the other exemplar being a Valley Forge indoor flag (w/fringe) that I have displayed on a pole in the corner of the computer room I am sitting in right now. This UK flag feels like it is a thinner grade of Nylon than the Valley Forge flag. The corners aren't exactly perfect square edges, and when you look under the header its not pefectly straight, and yes some of the stichwork is uneven. But, these are all things you would only notice if you saw the flag close up. If you were to look at the flag from my street as it flies from my pole (after wondering why I would choose that flag) you wouldn't notice any flaws from that distance. Key word here is Budget flag for occasional use.

I've been around the game long enough to know that an all sewn Union Jack at the price offered wasn't exactly going to be top o the line.

Anyway, here are some pics - my apologies in advance if I don't have it right side up, I think I do if my flags of the world chart is correct.

Overall:

All Sewn Union Jack by Coasterville, on Flickr

Detail of flag:

All sewn union jack - detail by Coasterville, on Flickr
(The red cross in the center isn't that out of alignment, flag must have been folded over somewhere. I just held it up to check for myself)