FINE AND RARE CONFEDERATE FIRST NATIONAL PATTERN CIVIL WAR-PERIOD FLAG, silk, entirely hand sewn, the steel blue one-piece canton featuring 13 double-applied five-pointed embossed-foil paper stars in a wreath pattern surrounding a central star, the fly with three pieced stripes, two red and one white, retaining a period ink-inscribed note, which reads, in part, "Confederate flag...home from N.C. by...in 1867." Unframed. Circa 1861. 34" x 22" object.
Catalogue Note: The "First National" flag pattern was adopted by the Confederate Congress in March 1861. The initial flag bore a star for each of the seven seceded states that formed the Confederacy. By December of that same year, however, there were thirteen stars in the design, eleven representing the states that actually seceded from the Union and one each for Kentucky and Missouri, which were divided and had both pro-Confederate and pro-Union governing factions in operation.
The present flag, an extremely rare survivor given the fragile materials used in its manufacture, is unusual in several respects - most notably its exceptional state of preservation and its use of embossed-foil paper stars in the canton.

From a private Connecticut estate collection.

Excellent overall original condition with very minor wear and discoloration. Minor wear and losses to paper stars.