Featured Attempting to purchase a vintage 48-star American flag—does this look legitimate?

They don’t have a lot of newer items. In addition to their vintage items, they’re selling a DVD player and various cups, plates, and bowls.

There were a few other people interested in the flag, but I ultimately didn’t have to fight for it.

 

Ok.

 

I wonder if the American Legion post this flag apparently belonged to could be of any assistance in determining this flag’s authenticity.

 

Ex Ralph Kramden? The Honeymooners lived in Canarsie as I recall.

 

No.... The family lived in Williamsburgh, but the boats lived in Canarsie.

 

Suppose the Raccoon Lodge might have owned a rowboat?

 

Brief update: I found an email affiliated with the American Legion post identified on the side of the flag. It might be a long shot, but perhaps someone will be able to identify one of the flag's characteristics and help me out.

I did some research on the post itself and it's certainly very active and sizable. Oldest reference I could find to this particular post was from 1932. If they can't help me with the flag, perhaps they can tell me if they have a history of flying reproduction 48-star flags. I doubt an organization full of war vets would have a hard time finding an authentic 48-star, though.

Thank you for giving me your two cents on this matter, by the way. I appreciate it.

 

now that we're talking 48 star flags....here's mine !!!
it's 69 x 42.......another odd size.....
it seems to be a good cotton...but the sewing...not trimmed so well....
and it looks used....but maybe indoors as opposed to flapping in the breeze....
any comments....?

 

If anyone would follow official flag etiquette, it would be the American Legion, who would burn or bury any flag that became ragged. So agree, this one never saw outdoor use.

 

Five cents, inflation. Last I knew, Lucy was getting 10.

 

ooopsy...this is mine...and no idea where it came from.....

 

I wouldn’t say it wasn’t used at all. Maybe just a few holidays.
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If it has a website it’s not all that old.
Good cotton flags are worth about that so you’re fine.
I get mine at thrifts and G sales.
I have a beautiful new 10x15’ cotton that’s worth hundreds and I paid $5.

 

Here are a couple of my 48 star flags, one is 31" X 56" aprox and the other is 5' X 9 1/2' with Philadelphia quartermaster printed. All were found at garage sales and were a buck or less. I get any flag that's going to be disposed of and take it to the proper place to be disposed of properly.

 

Hi,
As a kid I remember a very old neighbor gave my aunt an original 13 starred flag it was made of wool and a bit ratty on the edges. That July I asked my aunt if I could display the flag for the Fourth. She said "I threw that nasty old rag out, it probably had bugs in it." I think it was then I started to collect "antiques". When I was 12 I bought a very large flag, I think it was 12ft by 16ft. It was 8 dollars which was a large amount for a kid back then. I had that flag until the 1990s when I gave it to Chinese couple of friends of mine who had a large florist shop. They had it displayed until they closed their store in Brooklyn. It now gets displayed for the Fourth on their house on Staten Island. The husband was a helicopter pilot in VietNam.
greg

 

OMG!!!!!
I do the very same thing!!!!!!
YAY! Great that you do so!!!

 

OH NO!!!!!!
~
Nice to know this about the other one though.

 

Hi,
i used to take my flags when they needed cleaning to the dry cleaner. They used to dry clean the flags for free if they were members of the United States Dry Cleaners Assoc. I wonder if they still do????
greg

 

I used to do this as well.
I’ve asked at random cleaners and they look at me like I’ve fallen from the sky.
Nitwits.

 

The flag arrived today! She’s more beautiful in person!

Now that I can see the flag in person, I don’t feel that I have any reason to doubt its authenticity. The colors are more faded than they appear in the picture, and the flag itself is certainly very worn. In addition, there are a number of spots that have evidently been sullied by age.

 

Please always use the full mage button.