Thirty-nine star flags are an oddity in that their star count was never official. They were made at two different times, initially in 1876 and later in 1889. In 1876, before the admission of Colorado, flag makers speculated that an additional territory would also be admitted therewith. Because of this, some flag makers went from making thirty-seven star flags to thirty-nine star versions in 1876 (e.g., in patriotic centennial quilts). Instead, what actually occurred was only Colorado was admitted, and the flag went from thirty-seven stars to thirty-nine in 1876. Stars are arranged in 6-5-6-5-6-5-6 pattern with alternating points upward and downward. Later, in 1889, Congress considered adding the Dakota Territory as a single state, and based on this, some flag makers made anticipatory thirty-nine star flags. What happened, however, was that the Dakota Territory was then split into two states: North Dakota and South Dakota, and they were both admitted on November 2nd, 1889. This unexpectedly increased the star count, in 1889, from thirty-eight stars to forty stars, not to mention the unexpected increase from forty stars to forty-three stars this same year (i.e., the unexpected inclusion of Montana, Washington, and Idaho). The Flag Act of 1818 specified that the addition of each star should be on the Fourth of July following a state’s admission to the Union. Because North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, and Idaho were all admitted in 1889, the official star count of the official US flag increased from thirty-eight to forty-three in just a single year. Despite this, flag makers made thirty-nine star anticipatory flags based on incorrect assumptions of how and when new states would be admitted to the Union. Measures approximately 15" x 24" and shows very little wear, and made of silk. Excellent