American Historical Ephemera and Photography

58 x 121 in. hand-sewn and machine-sewn wool flag with 34 double-appliquéd cotton stars (toning, soiling, some areas of separation and small holes scattered throughout). Hoist is canvas with a whip-stitched eyelet at center and a 3 1/2 in. wooden toggle with approx. 106 in. jute rope attached. Reverse side of hoist inscribed, "Amn. 10 Ft." The 34th star represents Kansas, which was admitted to the Union in January 1861 and was the last state admitted before the outbreak of the Civil War.

Provenance: Tom Allen, Allen Collectibles; Estate of Assistant Engineer George P. Hunt (1833-1887) (consignor relates).

New York native George P. Hunt had a career in the US Navy that lasted from 1861-1887. He was appointed 3rd Asst. Engineer on 1 July 1861, and served aboard the steamer Rhode Island, Blockading Squadron, 1861, as well as the steam-sloop Dacotah, N.A., 1862-1863. On 18 December 1862, Hunt was promoted to 2nd assistant engineer, and from 1864-1865, he served aboard the USS Metacomet. While Hunt's ship went on several cruises in search for blockade runners in the Gulf of Mexico, this tour was highlighted by the action at Mobile Bay in August 1864. Hunt was promoted to 1st assistant engineer on 4 July 1865, and chief engineer on 29 December 1880. His life was cut short when he died on board the Cunard steamer Catalonia in April 1887, and his remains were buried at sea.

It has been suggested that the flag offered here flew aboard the USS Franklin, which served as Admiral Farragut's flagship during his 1867 European tour. A first-hand account of travels aboard the USS Franklin written by James Eglington Montgomery, A.M., of Admiral Farragut's staff notes that at various ports, admirers would adorn the ship with flags and bunting in celebration of Farragut and his Civil War accolades. (See Our Admiral's Flag Abroad: The Cruise of Admiral D.G. Farragut, Commanding the European Squadron in 1867-68, in the Flagship Franklin, by James Eglinton Montgomery, published in 1869.) While it is possible that the flag was previously flown aboard the ship, no further evidence accompanies the lot.