My Flag Collection

  I got this banner very cheap from a guy in the US. He didn't knew much about the history but three things seems very interesting about it. It is made of wool, has the pre 1955 hammer and sickle printed both sides on the fabric with sickle curving all the way behind the star. Lastly it has those woven lines along the fabric indicating its a British made banner from around World War 2. It has weights that feels like lead or some piece of heavy metal in the each corner. The header is "hollow" like it has been hanging from a pole. Together with all this I would say it was a banner used for a Soviet state visit in the UK during WW2 or maybe from the Soviet embassy hanging inside as display. The possibilities are many. It does not have any markings on it but a blacklight test indicates the header is from that era as well. No glow at all and it measures 84 x 182 centimeters (around 33 x 71 inches) non-stretched, so typical ratio 1:2 for CCCP's. What do you...

Imperial German Battle flag, World War 1 Reichskriegsflagge (pre wwii for this one) I bought this gorgeous wool bunting German battle flag from a friend of mine. This type of flag i n service before, during and after WWI until the "Weimar Republic" was created after the German defeat in World War 1. My flag is not from WWI but from the 1920-30's (pre WW2). The details on the eagle, scepter and orb is less detailed than what you would normally expect for a genuine WWI flag. Also the iron cross is wider than on a ww1 flag. From study, most of these flag was made and used to celebrate and honor the veterans and WW1 naval battle commemoration days, like the Battle of Jutland etc. It still smells of wool and has this coarse texture to the fabric. A great test is to ask yourself, do you want to sleep with it? If yes then its soft cotton like, if no then its wool and VERY itchy haha :D There is no rope on the flag but old markings after tacks, maybe because it was attached to a ...

48 stars US flag. In service from 1912 to 1959 The story Some time ago I bought this 48 stars US flag. The flag itself is in mint condition still with the paper tag attached to the header. This flag design was in service during World War 1 and World War 2 and therefore is the design (48 starts) you see in picture from both world wars, including the famous "Raising the flag on Iwo Jima" photo by Joe Rosenthal. Throughout the years the construction of the flag has changed from using wool to linen to polyester. Also the stars were either sewn, embroider or printed. Unlike the German flags during WWII it is very difficult to put an exact year of construction if you don't have the story with the flag as it was used in several years. The same goes with Soviet flag. Rule of thumb is if the stars are sewn and the bunting is wool or linen you might have a flag from the 1940's, so before, under or after World War 2. There was two major flags makers back then, Defiance...

  I while ago I acquired this small banner from an US auction. Normally I don't collect banners but as this was signed and got it cheap, I bought it :) It is a multi-piece construction made of cotton with a sewn hooked cross on both sides. The header fits for a stick/boom and on the other side there is one ring left. Originally it has three rings along the end but two are missing. It smells of "attic"/old and measures approx. 77 x 138 cm or 30 x 54 inches The soldier who signed the banner is Warren Eugene Shields, born 6th of October 1912, enlisted in 19th of August 1942 and discharged again 1st of October 1945. As you can see on the picture the year 1944 is written and Warren's army serial number. Unfortunately he passed away on the 10th of December 1976, 64 years old. If we assume he landed in Europe together the rest of the US soldier some point after D-Day, then the banner must have been taken somewhere between the 6th of June and New Year 1944 (ard...

  Near mint German Nazi Kriegsmarine battle flag with the Eagle over M marker.  (in reverse due to stamps) The story One of the few flags I have that are in mint or near mint condition. I don't have the story other than it is unused. It probability don't have story besides it comes from a dealer in the US which sold it to a guy in Ireland who sold it to me. The believe is it was taken directly from the store selves and brought back to the US as a trophy. Normally I usually buy flags that have some kind of history or at least shows wear and tear of usage, but having a near mint flag in the collecting is also something. Especially flags like this are quite expensive and thought after as they usually is used for display at a militaria shows or museums. The flag has the classic Eagle over M navy marker and a size of 100x170cm. It has a very tiny hole which makes it near mint or else the flag is tip top "new". The size indicates (according to WAF forum) it was supposed...

  Small used NATO flag. The smell alone ensures its authentic :D The story I acquired this used NATO flag on an auction a while ago. The flag is dirty, the ends are shredded and smells of burned diesel/exhaust. The question was where it was used? I asked the auction house if they knew or could contact the seller, which didn't turn up anything :/ On the flag there was a clue, the makers mark! It reads "Mecsek zászlóműhely" which is Hungarian and translates to Mecsek flag workshop. A quick search on Google shows the workshop it still exist and is located in the city of Pécs / Hungary. They even have a website: https://www.mecsek-zaszlomuhely.hu/ First thing that struck me was my flag measured 50x40cm but on their website that size was not available? So I dropped them an email along with some photos' asking about the flag/construction and maybe the history behind. To my surprise the CEO replied and had quite an interesting story. I'm so grateful the person ac...