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23 Star Flag - (1820-1822) (U.S.)

image by Clay Moss, 21 February 2007

Description of the flag
Jack
Great Star pattern
Other variant patterns

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Description of the flag

In 1820, two stars were added, representing Alabama and Maine, bringing the total number of stars to 23. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998

This flag flew from 4 July 1820 to 3 July, 1822.
Clay Moss, 21 February 2007

Jack

image by Clay Moss, 21 February 2007

Great Star Pattern

image by Blas Delgado Ortiz, 10 August 2001

Although there are no known 23 star flags in existence with this star pattern, I know of a description of one used when Maine became a state like this. Anyway, from the 1780s until about the Civil War, Great Star Flags -- with the stars arranged so they make up one big star -- were popular, particularly on ships.
Dave Martucci, 7 December 1997

Other variant patterns

image by Clay Moss, 21 February 2007

This arrangement represents a flag that I bought for $1.00 at a "going out of business" sale from school supply store in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in maybe 1970 or 1971. It was a typical thin linen all printed cotton flag like those that can be bought today. It was stapled to an unfinished 4 foot wooden dowel, that had a gold spear top. Interestingly enough, the flag was 20x38 inches. Once again, I'm not sure if this flag is an accurate representation of a period piece 23 star US flag, but the store had it in the history section.
Clay Moss, 25 February 2007

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