AMER AUGUST 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, August 24, 2015.
RARE AND POSSIBLY UNIQUE 19th CENTURY COLD WATER ARMY "TEMPERANCE" FLAG.The Cold Water Army was an early American temperance movement started in the 1830s with it's heyday in the 1840s. The movement seemed to play out by the time of the Civil War but the eagle motif on this flag sure appears to be Civil War with riband on eagle reading "UNION AND VICTORY". Cold Water and temperance can be found in the press and even as late as a Thomas Nast cartoon from 1880. Though we can't exactly date this flag, materials sure suggest circa 1870. This flag measures about 22" on fly and 19" on hoist attached to it's original 41-1/2" stick with slightly turned finial. The polished cotton body and hand-sewn silk ribbons making up trim and borders of newsprint paper panels are all materials available in this era. Hand-sewing threads appear to be 2- or 3-ply "S" twist reminiscent of the Civil War era, as is the 2-ply red twill wool strip with small squared tacks attaching flag to shaft. SIZE: PROVENANCE: From the personal estate collection of John W. Armiger Jr. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. This flag was obviously rolled for most of it's life and is in remarkable condition considering the fragility of the silk ribbons and delicate hand stitches utilized. 49055-23 JS (1,200-1,800)