Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

[toptimlrd]

I need someone with much more knowledge than myself to look at this. The reason for my interest is that I am familiar with this particular "i-sold it" franchise and know them to be honest and legit. My concern is that they may be getting "taken in" with the owner of this relic. This just looks to be much more modern that the real owner is portraying in my opinion. To my untrained eye, The double stitching looks to be of modern design. If someone can shine a light on this I will contact the proprietor to see if I can offer some help.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Original-Confederate-Flag-1864-Historical-NR_W0QQitemZ230030462617QQihZ013QQcategoryZ13882QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Let me also add that there is a reputable dealer in authentic relics in town and would likely give a much better price on an authentic flag than could be had on e-bay which also begs the question.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

Based on the size and material my guess would be post war (UCV). The material does not look like bunting and the flag is too big to be an infantry battle flag.

As a side note, documented CS battle flags do not have to be advertised on e-bay to be sold for top dollar. As with most high end CW items, the owner knows what it is and what it is worth. If the item is genuine there are always other collectors waiting for the item to come up for sale. Most really good stuff changes hands and you never know it until it goes on display or someone talks about it.

Try posting on this site for some expert opinions.

http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/boards/cwflags/

[toptimlrd]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

Based on the size and material my guess would be post war (UCV). The material does not look like bunting and the flag is too big to be an infantry battle flag.

As a side note, documented CS battle flags do not have to be advertised on e-bay to be sold for top dollar. As with most high end CW items, the owner knows what it is and what it is worth. If the item is genuine there are always other collectors waiting for the item to come up for sale. Most really good stuff changes hands and you never know it until it goes on display or someone talks about it.

Try posting on this site for some expert opinions.

http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/boards/cwflags/

Thanks Jim, my thoughts exactly: why put this on e-bay if it is what it is claimed to be. To be honest I am trying to give the i-sold it guys the heads up but am not versed well enough to do so on my own. I will check out the link.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

IMHO it doesn't seem quite right to me.

It would help to know what unit, army or theater the fellow being associated with the flag was in. If it is supposed to be an ANV flag there are a couple of things that make me suspicious but I am only going by general guidelines for these flags and there might have been some variations I suppose.

1) By 1864 these flags were supposed to have a white cotton border on them. There is no such thing on this flag.

2) By 1864, ANV flags were being made of wool bunting. The one in the photo appears to be cotton and there is no description of the material to know for sure.

3) There is no way to secure the flag to a staff. If the ties were gone, it seems like one would be at least able to see where they had been sewn on.

4) The 5th bunting issue of ANV flags was a bit rectangular and not square as earlier ones were but the sizes were 48-49 inches on the staff and 50-51 inches on the fly. That does not match up with what is shown.

5) AoT battle flags based on the ANV patteren were rectangular and were being issued by 1864, but the measurement on the staff was much smaller than what this one is.

It would take someone with expertise to look at the flag in person to really make any authentication but I, personally, would be wary about putting any money toward this flag.

[Arthur Stone]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

Hi you all ! It looks like it was hangin off the back of someones pickup truck!!!

[LWhite64]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

Unfortunately there is a HUGE fake flag business on Ebay, a group that I am part of that studies Confederate flags has documented over 100 fakes over the past few years. Most of those being sold out of East TN and North Carolina. Sad but true.


Lee

[toptimlrd]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

I notified the company hosting the sale but unfortunately the auction ended earlier today. The flag got one bid for $999.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

That flag looks very much to me like those supplied by the United Confederate Veterans for graveside services prior to and up until the 1920's. Nelson Winbush, the grandson of a black confederate who was a member of the UCV, frequently displays the flag that was on the coffin of his grandfather, and it is pretty close to the size listed on the site, and well as shape and material.

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Authentic Confed. Flag on e-bay???

You might want to poke around here, too. Even if you don't learn a whole lot (but you should) it's worth a few giggles.

http://www.virginiarelics.com/links.htm#Frauds%20and%20Fakes

Ron Myzie