Large 47-star American flag commemorating the admission of New Mexico as the forty-seventh state on January 6, 1912. Constructed of cotton bunting with individually appliquéd stars and machine-sewn stripes, the hoist bears the inscription “OAKS–BOGART” together with a separate handwritten owner’s marking. This flag represents one of the most unusual chapters in the evolution of the American flag and the culmination of the nineteenth-century ideal of Manifest Destiny—the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent. With New Mexico’s admission, followed just thirty-nine days later by Arizona on February 14, 1912, the continental United States was complete, stretching uninterrupted from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. Under the Flag Act of 1818, however, new stars were not added until the following Independence Day, causing the official national flag to advance directly from forty-six to forty-eight stars on July 4, 1912. As a result, 47-star flags were produced only as commemorative examples during this brief interval and never became an official United States flag. By family repute, the flag was originally owned by “Pie Allen,” believed to have served as the mayor of a city in Arizona or New Mexico, suggesting it may have been acquired and briefly flown in celebration of statehood. Rare for both its historical significance and comparatively limited production, the 47-star flag marks the final chapter in the continental expansion of the United States.

Dimensions: 92 x 172 in.

Pickup & Shipping: Free Sacramento pickup. Shipping via FedEx within the continental U.S. for $65 plus 1.5% insurance (unless waived in writing). Combined lot shipping available.

Displays age-related toning, scattered staining, period stitched repairs, minor losses, and scattered holes consistent with outdoor use. Hoist retains handwritten ownership inscriptions.