[FLAGS]. 42-star American flag with blue calico canton. Ca 1889-1890.

39 x 67 in. machine-sewn, cotton flag with 42 machine-sewn cotton stars appliqued on a canton made of blue calico cotton. Calico fabrics are seldom seen in the construction of American flags, making this an unusual example. Hoist is cotton. Mounted on 68 x 40 1/2 in. board.

The 42-star flag was never official. Five stars were added on 4 July 1890: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington (42nd state Nov. 1889) and the 43rd Idaho (3 July 1890). Very likely many of these were made to celebrate Washington's statehood, not knowing that Idaho would be admitted at the last minute. 

Provenance: Collection of Jeffrey Kenneth Kohn, MD.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.