Civil War
34-Star Civil War Period 1861 Parade Flag Display Framed
c. 1861-1863 Civil War Period, 34-Star American Flag, "Parade" size 4" x 6.25", Largest 5-Pointed Star at center, Representing the Admission of Kansas as a State into the Union, Very Fine.
This scarce American flag would have been current only during a short two-year span, since Kansas was admitted as the 34th State to the Union on January 29, 1861, then followed by West Virginia as the 35th State on June 20, 1863. Abraham Lincoln was President when this flag was made and used. A "Parade" size Flag without pole measuring about 4" x 6.25", mounted and framed to an overall size of 11" x 13". The printed Stars on the flag have five points the largest in size at center. This historic Flag appears to be printed on a glazed fine linen fabric (not examined out of the frame). Lightly frayed left edge from light use, minor spot in the first white stripe and another near the right end of the third white stripe. Interesting floating arrangement of the stars with smaller stars radiating out from the larger central star. A retail dealer shows a similar slightly larger size Parade flag currently "unavailable" priced at $4,995. This current flag is nicely matted, housed in a modern wooden frame under protective Plexiglas and ready to hang on display, as shown.
Kansas was admitted into the Union as the 34th state on January 29th, 1861, about 2 months before the Confederate assault on Fort Sumter that marked the beginning of the Civil War. The 34th star was officially added on July 4th of that year, but most flag makers would have added a 34th star with the addition of Kansas in January.
The star count remained official through the opening two years of the war, until July 3rd, 1863, and 34 star flags would have generally been produced until the addition of West Virginia in June of that year.