[NAVA1974]

Greetings to the American Flag forum from a long time Nava member. Thought I'd post a pic of one of the flags from my collection to start things off. It is a printed 35 star flag with the Great Star pattern and measures approximately 30 by 40 inches.

[american_flag_uk]

i find that very interesting to look at that flag!! aside from the canton i notice the white stripes are alot more damaged than the red stripes... i have a flag that is that way aswell but mine the red stripes and canton are undamaged an the white stripes are very much more damaged!! i dont get it!

[NAVA1974]

The dye or ink used on these flags has obviously done something to inhibit damage to the flag. I don't know whether it is the chemical composition of the dye/ink that helps to preserve the fabric, or whether it is simply a matter of the colored parts of the flag are stifffer and thus stronger to withstand the ravages of wind and time. I have a few other old "printed" flags like this (they are all glazed cotton muslin) that show more damage on the white stripes than on the red.

[american_flag_uk]

cann i see your collection ?? or at leaat know what flags u have?? i just started collectiong them last year and beginner vexillologist

[NAVA1974]

Here's another flag from the collection. This one is a wool flag with 13 cotton stars. It is dated "1898 New York Navy Yard" on the heading. Has brass grommetts and the stars are sewn with zig-zag machine stitching. Nick

[american_flag_uk]

dayum!!!! that is so so so nice!

come on im itching to know... how many USA flags do you have?

[NAVA1974]

Oh, quite a few. I have original examples from 28 stars up to the present, some in various sizes and star arrangements.

Here's another one. Its a 38-star flag, measuring about 18 x 24 inches. It is from the Mastai collection that was auctioned in October of 2002. You can see more of the Mastai flags at Terwilliger Associates - Antique American Flag Exhibit

I attended the auction and was able to win two small lots of smaller flags.