eBay FLAG : Dettra "Burial Flag"

[Robin Hickman]

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Greetings !


This morning I ran across an American Flag on eBay that puzzled me. It was/is listed as, "DETTRAS 48 STAR U.S. Flag 3'6" X 6'8" WWII, Mint/NM".

eBay Item #eBay#260585802475

I realized that the Flag's size (3'6" x 6'8") corresponded very closely with a U.S. Navy Size #9 U.S. Ensign.

But what puzzled me was the main picture of the Flag :

FLAG :
eBay#260585802475-FLAG.jpg


The Stars are UPSIDE DOWN !!!


The item's description is as follows :

48 Star American Flag
World War II Burial Flag
DETTRAS Flag Products
Bull Dog Bunting
48 STAR U.S. Flag Measures 3'6" X 6'8"
NR. MINT
No holes, ripes or tears.
Check out the pictures.

There are TWO more pictures. One of the header showing the Flag's size and the other of the header showing a "VETERANS ADMIN." stamp.

SIZE :
eBay#260585802475-SIZE.jpg


V.A. :
eBay#260585802475-VA.jpg



GO see for yourselves :

http://cgi.ebay.com/DETTRAS-48-STAR-U-S-Flag-36-X-68-WWII-Mint-NM_W0QQitemZ260585802475QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defa ultDomain_0?hash=item3cac1fcaeb


Although I may think that the upside down Stars were a mistake, maybe W-A-Y back when the V.A. ordered them like that so as to differentiate them as "BURIAL" or "INTERMENT" Flags ???




Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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[NAVA1974]

Robin,
That flag was made for Tea Party Members who want to fly their flag upside-down in protest but still want the stars in the proper orientation!

That is really an odd flag. The way the canton is inserted into the 4th red stripe is even more unusual than the upside down stars. It is easy to see how the piece of blue fabric could mistakenly be placed upside down, but there is no way that part of that red stripe should show - that's just not how flags are made.

Nick

[Robin Hickman]

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Greetings !


Hi, Nick !

I was SO focussed on the upside-down Stars, that I overlooked the problem with the Union being sewn INTO the fourth red stripe !!!

I wonder what the "backside" of the Flag looks like?

I suppose if one were making some kind of "repair" on an older sewn Flag and had to remove the Canton (Union) to do so, that there is the faint possibility that it could get mis-sewn back into the Flag upside down.

Or maybe somebody tried to replace the Flag's original 50 Star Union with an older 48 Star Union in an attempt to make the Flag more "valuable"?

A Dettra Flag Company "Factory Second"?

Maybe we should ask the seller to post more pictures of his Flag ???


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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[csaanv]

Odd, the aspect ratio of the flag does not look like 3.6" x 6.8" at all.

[Robin Hickman]

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HOWDY !


I've "magnified" the Flag's photo a couple of times to look more closely at the header. I have as yet been totally unable to spot any indication of the Dettra stamps near the upper grommet as they are shown in the second picture.

Admittedly, I do NOT have the greatest photo editing software, but I would think that I would at least be able to spot a darker "shadow" where the Dettra stamp is supposed to be!!!


Oh, well . . . . .


Robin "I'll Believe It When I See It" Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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[csaanv]

You are right! I have one of these Dettra 3.6.x 6.8 flags and the stars are appliqued but in the photo the stars look printed. What is going on here?

[csaanv]

I am going to call this guy out and send him a question. I will let you know what he says.

[coasterville]

I think its pretty clear not all the photos are from the same flag. Look at the photo of the Detra manufacturer stamp, and look at the embroidery of the star you can just barely see. Note the visible tip of the star gets wider away from the grommet hole, the only way that can happen is if the star is right side up,not upside down as the overall picture suggests.

I'd tread very lightly on this one if you were going for collector purposes. If on the other hand you want a 48 star flag and don't care that it looks a bit "off" then go ahead. Just be aware resale value is limited unless you can authenticate that the flag company allowed a defective product to be sold.

[csaanv]

I got an answer from the seller and he said:
"Stars are sown onto the canton. Couldn't get a good pic so I used a stock for the flag. The others are actual pics of the printing on the flag"
I might bid on it since it is a G-spec flag from the VA.

[jstep19]

I also have a Bulldog Bunter Dettras flag with 48 stars. Also, it has Veterans Admin. printed along the side. Can anyone explain the significance of the Vet. Admin. stamp? I believe this flag came from my grandfather or great grandfather. I'm just interested in finding out where it may have come from initially. Thanks