[KPriority]

Hello from Orlando. My name is Kate and I happened upon your website trying to value some flags I have. I am relocating and while packing rediscovered three, 3 x 5 100% Cotton Bunting Colonial American flags which I purchased 20 years ago or more. The bright yellow, Gadsen (?) flag is stamped with "Don't Tread on Me" and has a stamped, not embroidered, snake image. The 13-star "Betsy Ross Flag" has stamped stars but double-stitched individual stripes. However, the 15-star, "Star Spangled Banner" flag has double stitched stripes and each of the 15 stars is individually embroidered on the cloth.

I bought them all at the same time. They are all stamped DEFIANCE and Annin but the logos differ slightly. They were from a flag store going out of business after nearly 50 years and were older stock on a clearance table. I vaguely recall that each flag was boxed with a label but the boxes were broken down even then so I must have discarded them. I had infant children at the time and bought the flags thinking they might be useful for classroom assignments over the years. But of course, I put the flags away and forgot about them. Kids are grown. Still have the flags and wondering if they are worth anything if I try to ebay them. They appear to have brass grommets, but not certain. They've never been displayed and stored in a smoke-free home. Thanks for any help you can give as I have no idea how to price these or if they would be of any interest to anyone. Thank so much for any guidance you're willing to provide.

[Robin Hickman]

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Hello, KPriority from Orlando, Florida !

Welcome to the USA-Flag-site Forums !


My best "Guesstimate" of the value of your Flags if put up for auction on eBay is based on what information you have provided. [ Please note that I have NEVER sold, or tried to sell, anything on eBay. Of the 19 buying transactions I have completed there, about 14 have been for American Flags. ]

ALL three of your Flags are approximately 20 years old and were made by Annin & Co. They are all 3'x5' in size, made of 100% cotton bunting, and are part of Annin's "Defiance" model line of flags. NONE of the three come in their original packaging.


"Gadsden" Flag (Yellow, with a coiled rattlesnake and the motto, "Don't Tread On ME") : Fully "printed" or "dyed". Estimated eBay auction value = $5-10.00 (NO shipping & handling added).


"Betsy Ross" Flag : White Stars in the Blue Union are "printed" or "dyed", and the 13 stripes are individually sewn. Estimated eBay auction value = $10-15.00 (NO shipping & handling added).

[ NOTE : I recently bought a "Betsy Ross" Flag of similar size and construction on eBay. Although it was NOT an Annin & Co. flag ("Collegeville"), it WAS in its ORIGINAL packaging. the Flag cost me $13.49 PLUS $3.00 S&H. I posted pictures of it HERE : http://www.usa-flag-site.org/forum/76-13-star-flag-6057.html#post17398 ]


"Star-Spangled Banner" Flag : Embroidered Stars and Individually Sewn Stripes. Estimated eBay auction value (CONSERVATIVE) = $20-25.00 (NO shipping & handling added). HOWEVER : "Embroidered & Sewn" Flags cost more to make and therefore usually command a higher price than "printed" or "printed & sewn" Flags. That, plus the fact that it's a "Star-Spangled Banner" Flag, could push the final "sales" price up into the $40-50.00 range.


IF you were to put them up for auction AS A GROUP (of three), then your final sales price (estimated) might be in the $50-60.00 range (w/o s&h added). There are no "guarantees", of course.


To perhaps get a little better idea of what kind of value your Flags might have on eBay, you can always go there and use some different search terms to see if you can find any similar items and what they are asking for them.

If, and when, you do put your flag up for auction on eBay, you're going to need to supply some photos of them. Why don't you get some "practice" in and post some photos of your Flags HERE first ???


Anyway, Thank You for posting your Flag-related question here in our Forums, KPriority !


IF you have any more questions, feel free to ask them! Looking forward to seeing your pictures !!!



Robin Hickman


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[NAVA1974]

I agree with Robin's estimates. Note, however, that printed polyester flags of the same designs can be purchsed on eBay for as little as $6 including shipping, so if you list them you need to hype the facts that these flags are "new old stock" and "Annin" and "cotton bunting"and "new unused condition" and "sewn stripes" and "embroidered stars" where applicable. Don't forget to state the size.
Good luck