{"product_id":"original-spanish-american-war-spanish-army-knapsack-flag-for-regimiento-infanteria-la-albuera-no-26-in-gonfalon-shape-regiment-fought-in-cuba-28-x-34","title":"Original Spanish-American War Spanish Army \"Knapsack Flag\" for Regimiento Infanteria La Albuera No. 26 in Gonfalon Shape - Regiment Fought in Cuba - 28 x 34”","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a very interesting and lovely example of a scarce Spanish “Knapsack flag”, dating to the Spanish-American War period. The flag is identified to\u003cstrong\u003e Regimiento de Infantería \"Albuera\" nº 26 (26th Infantry Regiment \"Albuera\").\u003c\/strong\u003e This example is quite unique in that it is shaped like a Spearhead or “Gonfalon” banner, with the bottom edge leaning inward to a point. It measures 28 x 34” and shows heavy wear and some staining. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flag is of light canvas construction, with the Red, Yellow, and Red stripes of the Spanish national flag. In the center is a variation of the Spanish coat of arms. Surrounding it is the following text:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREGIMIENTO INFANTERIA\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Coat of Arms)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLA ALBUERA No. 26\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese markings identify the piece to \u003cstrong\u003eRegimiento de Infantería “La Albuera” No. 26, \u003c\/strong\u003eor the 26th “La Albuera” Infantry Regiment. Following the outbreak of the Cuban War of Independence, the regiment mobilized an expeditionary battalion that arrived in Havana in \u003cstrong\u003eSeptember 1895\u003c\/strong\u003e. Elements of the regiment subsequently served in Cuba during the campaigns that preceded and continued into the Spanish-American War period, including operations in the western portion of the island.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is overall good, with some heavy creasing and staining as shown. There is color fading in some spots. The shape is very unique on this example, and we could not find another knapsack flag from this regiment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpanish knapsack flags are generally known as Banderas de Mochila, though the terms Bandera de Percha and, in period regulations, pañuelo were also used. They were personal issue cloths associated with individual soldiers rather than conventional large regimental colors and typically carried the national colors together with a unit designation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeriod terminology also included pañuelo cubrepercha, essentially a cloth used to cover or identify a soldier’s hanging equipment or kit. Examples were issued to troops embarking for overseas service and became a distinctive feature of Spanish military equipment during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe practice has roots in Spanish expeditionary service beginning in the mid-19th century and continued for decades thereafter. Because these cloths were individually issued and subjected to extensive field use, surviving examples can vary considerably in condition, printing, dimensions, and construction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of the\u003cstrong\u003e La Albuera No. 26 designation, Spanish national colors, surviving central coat of arms, Cuban campaign association, unusual gonfalon-like shape, and substantial original 28 x 34-inch format\u003c\/strong\u003e makes this an especially interesting surviving example of Spanish military personal equipment from the Spanish-American War era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46106429587525,"sku":"ONJR26OCAS015","price":1195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR26OCAS015__01.jpg?v=1792759966","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-spanish-american-war-spanish-army-knapsack-flag-for-regimiento-infanteria-la-albuera-no-26-in-gonfalon-shape-regiment-fought-in-cuba-28-x-34","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}