Philadelphia Antiques Show 2024

Booth G3 Extraordinary flag with a white ground, featuring a red, hand-sewn, single-appliqued eagle, surrounded by 14, hand-sewn, indigo blue stars, inscribed “Delaware” along the hoist binding; Made by prolific Manhattan flag maker Sarah Mc Fadden, dubbed “The Betsy Ross of New York,” between 1852 - 1860 for the Hudson River Steamship “Delaware.” Conscripted into federal service in 1861 and outfitted with guns, the craft was renamed the U.S.S. Delaware, and served the next 4 years as a Civil War gun boat. In 1865, it was sold to the Revenue Marine, better known as the Revenue Cutter Service, where it served until 1903 (re-named the U.S.R.C. Louis McLane in 1873); afterwards sold to the private sector as a merchant steamer (re-named the Louis Dolive in 1903). An 1852 painting by J. & J. Bard, celebrated illustrators of Hudson River Steamers, shows the vessel with a very similar flag in navy blue, with an arch of 15 stars. An incredible, pre-Civil War flag from a boat with a spectacular story. flag - 47.75” x 72”, frame - aprx. 60” x 84” Extraordinary flag with a white ground, featuring a red, hand-sewn, single-appliqued eagle, surrounded by 14, hand-sewn, indigo blue stars, inscribed “Delaware” along the hoist binding; Made by prolific Manhattan flag maker Sarah Mc Fadden, dubbed “The Betsy Ross of New York,” between 1852 - 1860 for the Hudson River Steamship “Delaware.” Conscripted into federal service in 1861 and outfitted with guns, the craft was renamed the U.S.S. Delaware, and served the next 4 years as a Civil War gun boat. In 1865, it was sold to the Revenue Marine, better known as the Revenue Cutter Service, where it served until 1903 (re-named the U.S.R.C. Louis McLane in 1873); afterwards sold to the private sector as a merchant steamer (re-named the Louis Dolive in 1903). An 1852 painting by J. & J. Bard, celebrated illustrators of Hudson River Steamers, shows the vessel with a very similar flag in navy blue, with an arch of 15 stars. An incredible, pre-Civil War flag from a boat with a spectacular story. flag - 47.75” x 72”, frame - aprx. 60” x 84”