[FLAGS]. 42-star American flag on tissue, made by Dennison Mfg. Co. Ca 1889-1890.

13 1/8 x 17 3/8 in. flag printed on tissue paper, 42 stars arranged in vertical rows 7/7/7/7/7/7. Notation “Dennison Mfg. Co., Makers” printed on white stripe below canton.

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: Mastai Collection, #180 (printed on bottom white stripe); Collection of Jeffrey Kenneth Kohn, MD.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.