Description

Wonderful piece of true Americana, a antique hand sewn Gadsden Flag circa 1876 Centennial era. The Gadsden flag is probably the most famous flag from The American Revolution. The bright yellow Gadsden flag, long a symbol of support for civil liberties and disagreement with government, has its beginning deeply rooted in the days of the American Revolution. The rattlesnake, the Gadsden flags central feature, had been an emblem of Americans even before the Revolution. The Pennsylvania Gazette published an article in 1751 bitterly protesting the British practice of sending convicts to America where the author suggested that the colonists should return the favor by shipping them a cargo of rattlesnakes. Three years later the same newspaper published what is believed to be one of the first political cartoons in America. It was of a snake cut into eight sections with the words Join, or Die below. Each section represented a colony and was warning of the dangers of disunity. The rattlesnake symbol caught on and became a part of several other Revolutionary War flags. Before the departure of the United States Navys first mission in 1775, Continental Colonel Christopher Gadsden from South Carolina presented the newly appointed commander with a yellow rattlesnake flag to serve as a standard for his flagship. Accompanying the Navy on its first mission were five companies of Marines carrying yellow drums featuring a snake with 13 rattles and the words Dont Tread on Me. The Navy later adapted the snake emblem and Dont Tread on Me motto into what is now known as the First Navy Jack. Featuring a rattlesnake stretched across 13 red and white stripes with Dont Tread on Me below, the Secretary of the Navy ordered in 2002 that this powerful American symbol will fly on all naval ships for the duration of the War on Terrorism. Rarity Rating: [ 7 ] Rated on a scale of 1 to 10 10 being the most rare. This item rates a [ 7 ] For example, [ 1 ] Rated items are our lowest price items. [ 10 ] Rated items are rare and the highest price we offer. Please email for price and shipping cost. Sizes are listed below the item number. Please refer to item number. Each flag comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. We only sell authentic genuine antique American Flags. All framed flags have high quality professional museum, Framing, wood frames, all acid free, w/UV acrylic protection. Please refer to item number when requesting Pricing. Thank you for your interest. Shipping to 48 States only. Shipping by FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery.