Historical Americana Co.

Collecting Antique American Flag There are a few ways you can start to collecting antique American Flags. Start with the 49 star vintage American flag and go back in time: 49 (1959),48(1912-1959) These flags are fairly affordable and available. There are very few 47’s (1912)  so forget about trying to get one. 46 (1907-1912), 45 (1896-1907),44 (1890), You can find them once in a while but they are more expensive than the 48 & 49. The 45 star flag is very popular as it’s from the Spanish American War period, which has a connection to Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. Also it’s a pre-1900 era antique American flag, which is a plus. 43(1890)star flags are very rare, don’t even try to find one… A few 42,s(1889) are available. Virtually no 41’s (1889), Very few 40(1889) star flags, can be found. However you can find a 39(1889) and 38(1876-1889) star. These are more expensive than the 46-45-44 star antique American flags. Indian war period antique American flags: 37 (1867-1876), 38 (1876-1889),39 (1889),40 (1889),42 (1889), These are highly collectable and will require a bigger budget to step up to collecting this star count flags. Civil War era Antique American Flags: 34 (1861-183),… Read More

Commissioning Pennant History, Naval Flags The act of placing a ship in commission marks her entry into active Navy service.  At the moment when the commissioning pennant is broken at the masthead, a ship becomes a Navy command in her own right, and takes her place alongside the other active ships of the Fleet. This ceremony continues a tradition some three centuries old, observed by navies around the world, and by our own Navy since December 1775, when Alfred, the first ship of the Continental Navy, was commissioned at Philadelphia.  Once in commission, the commanding officer and crew are entrusted with the privilege, and the responsibility, of maintaining their ship’s readiness in peace, and of conducting successful operations at sea in time of war. No written procedure for commissioning was laid down in our Navy’s early days, but the act of commissioning was familiar, derived from established British naval custom.  Commissionings were simple military ceremonies.  The prospective commanding officer came on board, called the crew to quarters, and formally read the orders appointing him to command.  He then ordered the ensign and the commissioning pennant hoisted; at that moment the ship went into commission, and the first entry in the… Read More