Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice World War Two Era 48 Star American Flag, in a nice displayable 67” x 34” size. The flag body is of multi-piece wool construction, with the stars esewn on, with a header and zinc grommets on the top and bottom corners of the hoist side.

The flag does show some wear, with very minor mothing and no tearing. The flag has the usual age toning, so the white is now somewhat beige. Very nice example, ready to be properly displayed!

The flag was made by the Annin Flag Company and is a “Defiance” brand. Founded in 1847 by Alexander Annin, the business was previously a ship chandler on Fulton Street, New York City in the 1820s. By 1847, Annin Flagmakers turned to manufacturing all flags and was soon taken over and run by Alexander's two sons, Benjamin and Edward. Located at 99-101 Fulton Street (at the corner of William Street) in Lower Manhattan from 1847 until 1925, the location became known as “Old Glory Corner”. Needing more space, Annin opened a location on Fifth Avenue at the corner of 16th Street. The showroom, corporate offices and custom sewing department moved to this space in 1910 and remained until 1960 when the offices moved to New Jersey.

With rising demand for American flags during World War I, Annin built a modern five-story, 34,000 sq ft (3,200 m2) manufacturing building in Verona, New Jersey that opened in 1918 at a cost of $155,655. When a 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m2) addition was completed in 1925, the Fulton Street location was closed. Two months before the closure, a large fire struck Fulton Street, but luckily Annin's location was spared.

One of Annin's early commissions was flags for the inauguration of Zachary Taylor as President of the United States in 1849. In 1850 Annin provided flags for concerts by Swedish singer Jenny Lind displayed on a national tour produced by showman P. T. Barnum. In 1851 Annin made flags for Queen Victoria of Great Britain for the Queen's "Great Exhibit of the Works of Industry of All Nations" in London, considered by historians to be the first World's Fair.

In the 1860s, the U.S. Signal Corps requisitioned all its wartime flags from Annin Flagmakers for the Civil War. An undated newspaper article in Annin's archives from the 1860s states “Without going through forms of contract, Annin supplied the government direct . . . as the war progressed, orders came pouring in from every state and city that was loyal to the Union, so that by the beginning of 1864, there was not a single battlefield, a brigade or a division that did not use Annin flags.”

Annin supplied the flags for the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln and the flag that draped his casket as it was taken by train from Washington, D.C. to Illinois.

Annin Flagmakers records show its flags have participated in world events such as:

-The opening ceremonies of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883
-Commander Robert E. Peary’s arrival at the North Pole in 1909 and Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s arrival at the South Pole 21 years later
-The flag raising by US Marines atop Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima in 1945
-The NASA Apollo space program including the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969
-America's 1976 Bicentennial celebration
-The design in 1971 by Newt Heisley and inception of the POW-MIA flag in 1972 in conjunction with the National League of POW/MIA Families

Annin purchased competitive flag companies, Colonial Flag Company in Coshocton, Ohio in 1975 and Dettra Flag Co. in Oaks, PA in 1998. Dettra Flag Co. had been Annin's largest commercial competitor since 1902. In 2010, Annin purchased FlagZone in Gilbertsville, PA. FlagZone runs independently from Annin with Dan Ziegler as its President.

The general rule of thumb is that cotton flags were issued during WWII and nylon flags were issued during the Korean War. Flags made prior to WWII were made of a wool blend. This flag is made from multiple pieces of fabric, with sewn on white stars and zinc grommets.

Condition is very good, with the expected age toning and wear from service, as shown.

Honoring the Flag Code
On June 22, 1942, Congress passed a joint resolution, later amended on December 22, 1942, that encompassed what has come to be known as the U.S. Flag Code.
Perhaps the most important guideline involves how citizens should behave around the Stars and Stripes: The flag of the United States is the emblem of our identity as a sovereign nation, which the United States of America has been for more than 200 years.
Therefore, members of the armed services and veterans are asked to stand at attention and salute when their flag is passing in a parade or being hoisted or lowered; civilians should place their right hand over their heart.

General Guidelines for Displaying the Flag:
-When the flag is hung vertically on a wall, window, or door, the Union (blue section) should be to the observer’s left. When the flag is hung either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the Union should be to the observer’s left.
-In a procession, the American flag should be to the right (the flag’s own right) of any other flag or, if in a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line.
When displayed from a staff projecting from a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff.
-When the flag is displayed otherwise than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out; or so suspended that its folds fall as freely as though the flag were staffed.
-When displayed over a street, the flag should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street, or to the east in a north and south street.
-On a platform, the flag should be above and behind the speaker, with the union uppermost and to the observer’s left.
-When displayed from a staff in a church or auditorium, the flag should occupy the position of honor and be placed at the speaker’s right as he faces the audience.
-When the flag is used to cover a casket, the union should be at the head and over the left shoulder.

How Not to Display the American Flag
-The flag and its likeness should be treated with respect. Its image should not be cheapened or tarnished by improper use.
-The flag should not be dipped to any person or thing, including government officials—even the President.
-The flag should never be displayed with the union (stars) down, unless as a signal of dire distress.
-The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
-The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
-The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
-The flag should never be used as covering for a ceiling.
-The flag should never have anything placed on it.
-The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose, nor embroidered on cushions or handkerchiefs, printed on paper napkins or boxes, nor used as any portion of a costume.