Lot 487
13 Star Flag - The Prisoner's Flag, c. 1781. Found in Devon England, this flag is believed to have been made by an American seaman captured during the Revolutionary War and held in an English prison. 8½ x 13½", handmade, of improvised material: silk and wool, with embroidered stars and white ribbons for the white stripes, appliquéd to a ground of red wool twill of very fine weave (an officer's redcoat?). The canton rests on the fourth red stripe, or "war stripe"; the stars are awkwardly patterned, possibly intended to delineate the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew or a semicircular arch. Accompanied by a report from textile expert Dr. S.R. Goody.
Betsy Ross' second and third husbands, Joseph Ashburn and John Claypoole, were both American seamen during the Revolutionary War. They were captured and were cellmates in The Old Mill Pond Prison in Plymouth, Devon Co. News of the British surrender at Yorktown (Oct. 17, 1781) reached the prison in late November or early December 1781 and one of the prisoners celebrated by making the "Stars & Stripes" and probably left it with one of the English families who kept the prisoners from starving. Joseph Ashburn, who was married to Betsy Ross at the time and was used to seeing her make flags, could well have been the one to make the flag, but this is speculation. Ashburn was in poor health and died on March 3, 1782 and John Claypoole married Betsy Ross upon his return to Philadelphia.
Accompanied by a painting of the flag made by Marie Mastai, July 4, 1970, with the exact dimensions of the original flag and housed in a matching 17 x 21" frame.
Buyer responsible for third party shipping. Call to make arrangements.
Estimated Value $7,500 - 10,000.
Ex. The Claude Harkins Collection of Americana; Sotheby's, Oct. 11, 2002, lot 80, Boleslaw and Marie-Louise d'Otrange Mastai Flag Collection.
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| Realized $39,360 |
