[FLAG]
A hand-sewn 21-star American flag commemorating Illinois statehood in 1818. Circa 1818-1819. A very large hand-sewn cotton American flag, circa 1819, with 11 stripes (possibly reduced) and the canton sitting on the "Blood" or "War" stripe (symbolizing victory in the War of 1812, the canton with 21 hand-sewn double-applique wool stars configured in the Great Star pattern. Flag is about 44 x 83 inches (112 x 211 cm); mounted in a thick gilt wood frame with wide margins, the frame overall 54 x 95 inches (137 x 241 cm). Some spotting and stains, possibly reduced in size at an early date, a few minor punctures, professionally mounted, not examined out of frame.
Provenance: Sotheby's New York, Important Americana, including Silver, Flags, Folk Art & Furniture, 23 May 2002, lot 108 ("This folk art flag may have been made by someone of European descent then living in the United States.")
Sold for $35,200
Estimated at $10,000 - $15,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
[FLAG]
A hand-sewn 21-star American flag commemorating Illinois statehood in 1818. Circa 1818-1819. A very large hand-sewn cotton American flag, circa 1819, with 11 stripes (possibly reduced) and the canton sitting on the "Blood" or "War" stripe (symbolizing victory in the War of 1812, the canton with 21 hand-sewn double-applique wool stars configured in the Great Star pattern. Flag is about 44 x 83 inches (112 x 211 cm); mounted in a thick gilt wood frame with wide margins, the frame overall 54 x 95 inches (137 x 241 cm). Some spotting and stains, possibly reduced in size at an early date, a few minor punctures, professionally mounted, not examined out of frame.
Provenance: Sotheby's New York, Important Americana, including Silver, Flags, Folk Art & Furniture, 23 May 2002, lot 108 ("This folk art flag may have been made by someone of European descent then living in the United States.")
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, Nov 25, 2025
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle’s November 25, 2025 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps attracted strong global interest, delivering outstanding results and a sale total that surpassed expectations.
Highlighting the sale was a rare 1910 Doves Press tercentenary edition of Shakespeare’s Sonnets printed on vellum that soared past its estimate of $10,000-15,000 to achieve $60,800 amid trans-Atlantic bidding. One of just 15 copies produced on pure vellum, it is an exceptional example of the press’s vellum printing with an attractive binding by Charles MacLeish, enhanced by the distinguished provenance of Cortland Bishop and John Saks.
Also featured was a remarkable 1528 manuscript detailing the colonization of Venezuela by a contingent of conquistadors backed by the German financiers who supported Charles I of Spain in his bid for the Holy Roman Empire. Far outperforming expectations, it realized $35,200.
A standout among several intriguing American flags was a large and rare 21-star United States flag in the unusual Great Star pattern, circa 1819, which more than doubled its $10,000-15,000 estimate, selling for $35,200. The flag was created to commemorate Illinois’s admission to the Union in 1818.
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
