The "Fake" flags

 

Background

This post is to warn unknown buyers about fake flags for sale on Ebay among others!

About a year ago I bought a white ensign flag on a flea market. I was very suspicious about the construction of the flag and the fabric used but became very curious as I love to find the history fake or not.

The flag had a year stamp on it and admiral stamp as well. I posted it on my old blog and a guy named Paul made a comment on it, saying it was fake as I also suspected. You can argue the flag is not a fake, how can a flag be fake? A flag is a flag. It could be a replica? But when it has the year stamp on it and the flag is more a mid 1900's flag and tries to be something its not, I would say its a fake!

Ok. After Paul made the comment and stated they were sold on Ebay I became more curious. I rarely! buy flags on E-bay as there are so many unknown sellers selling cheap crap. If you want to loose your money then go crazy but if you want to buy the real thing then be very carefull and buy from sellers you trust.

Anyways I bought some of these fake flags from two diffrent guys on Ebay so I have something to compare. Together with my flea market white ensign I now have three flags, White Ensign, Union Jack and a Italian national flag (pre 1946). 

The first thing that jumped into my eye was the construction especially the header, rope and cross stitchings. Even though they are from different manufacturers the are almost 100% identical in look and feel. The fabric is also pretty much the same, really heavy cotton that would make the flag three times as heavy when it gets wet. The are all multi piece constructions sewn together.

The white ensign


Manufacturer: SGD P.F. Humphreys

Size: 3x5 feet (90x150cm)

Fabric: cotton

Construction: multi piece, sewn

Markings: 3x5, London 1942, admiral stamp (anchor)


Union Jack

Manufacturer: unknown

Size: 2x3 feet (60x90cm)

Fabric: cotton

Construction: multi piece, sewn

Markings: 2x3, Glasgow 1942, R.S.F, "crow food" W D.


Italian national flag

Manufacturer: Linificio E Canapificio National S.P.A

Size: 85x150cm

Fabric: cotton

Construction: multi piece, sewn

Markings: xxx, 17a Div. Fanteria "pavia", R.E (chrown), 1939


The Similarities

On the image below you can see the rope, cross stitching and header material. I my mind there is no doubt these comes from the same manufacturer. It also feels the same way
Lets this be your first warning sign when you investigate a new flag. Does it look old, like almost 100 years old? Does it look like something we use today?

White Ensign is at the bottom, Italian on the middle and Union on top



Again, the fabric used for the header is the same. The Union Jack looks newer, but dont be fooled. In my investigation I've heard about sellers who will "trash" the flags so they look old and smells of "attic"


Below images of the ropes. They seems almost to be from the same bundle. Notice the cross stitchings as well and the stitching below the rope.



The markings

Not much to say here. Just pictures of the makers and other writings on the headers









SGD P.F. Humphreys

I haven't been able to track any textile or flag maker/company in London during world war two. When I Google it I find a P.F. Humphreys dental store, but it was founded in 1950 and also changed its name in 1986 from L.J. Warren to P.F. Humphreys. I have contacted the Imperial War Museum in London to see if they could help but no :/ I'm now awaiting a response from National Archive in UK. I also found a British pilot named P.F. Humphreys but to be honest I think he was more busy shooting down Germans then making flags for the military. I have seen many flags marked with P.F. Humphreys and I think the company never existed.

Some say these flags are from the Delta Company in the 1970's. I dont know of any Delta Company but it sure does look like the flags comes from the same manufacturer.

Linificio E Canapificio National S.P.A

I haven't really investigated this manufacturer, as I'm pretty certain the flag is not from 1939! A quick Google I can see there do exits a hemp/fabric company in Italy and I can see the address does exits in Milano. But I haven't email the company asking about the flag. Maybe I will do that in the future. I have a feeling they actually made the flag in the 1960's and then the stamps are put on afterwards by someone else.

The Ebay sellers

Ebay sellers who list flags as original. 

Disclaimer: I dont know about the other items they sell but beware

spanmil <- has a lot of fake flags for sale. Also a website https://www.spandaumilitariashop.com

worldmillitaryuk

millitarystrike123

oscar_wilde999

Please help me report these sellers to Ebay when you see they list obviously fake  flags as originals. So we together can save buyers these. I have made reports several times now and about half of the times Ebay will take the add down. Those that wont get deleted I just report them again and again until they are deleted.

Final thoughts

If you in doubt about a flag from the World War periods, then ask in forums like WAF (wehrmacht-awards.com), War Relics (https://www.warrelics.eu). Remember to put your request in the correct sub forum :)

Plus there are multiple Vexillology groups on Facebook and Reddit

Another source is museums websites, like IWM (Imperial War Museum). There you will find pictures of many flags. See if you can find one almost smilier to yours. Study how they are made, fabric and so on. WWI and WWII flags are typically made of wool, not always, but often. US flags are made of wool, linen or cotton. There are multiple reliable dealers on the US like Jeff Bridgman

As a final note I did due a blacklight test on the flags. The fluorescence but not as much as modern polyester flags, so dont rely on this as the only source.

Happy hunting and watch out!

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