A U.S. 34-STAR FLAG USED BY THE SAINT LOUIS HOME GUARD.
A hand-sewn pieced wool flag with applied stars in 4-6-6-6-3-5-4 pattern (approximately), sleeved cloth heading, 50 x 79.5 inches, framed to 59 x 88 inches. Some fading, wear and loss, particularly at the fly end.
Provenance: Made in St. Louis, MO, 1861, brought to San Francisco in 1871; by descent to Mrs. Laura S. Edwards; gifted to de Young Museum, 1924; sold Butterfield & Butterfield Auctions, SF, CA, to the Zaricor Flag Collection, 1997.

According to the De Young Museum records, this flag was gifted to the museum by Laura S. Edwards in 1924 and described as 'American flag—brought to S.F. in 1871—made in 1861 ... Half-masted for Gen. Lyon, first Union General killed in the Civil War,—has been half-masted for every President up to Warren G. Harding.' Research by previous owner and flag expert Howard Madaus suggests that it was carried by the 'St. Louis Home Guard' or one of its German companies which played a significant role in 1861 ensuring that St. Louis and the state remained in the Union. During the transition period of border states deciding whether to stay in the Union or join the new Confederate States of America Northern sympathizers learned that a military move was going to be initiated by citizens in favor of establishing St. Louis a supporter of the Southern Cause using force if necessary. At that time the German community was a major influential ethnic group in favor of the city remaining loyal to the United States. Using this flag, the Regimental Color of the St. Louis Home Guards, the militia surrounded the armed camp of the citizen army formed to take over the city for the South and put down the rebellion.