Last modified: 2014-09-27 by pete loeser
Keywords: ufe | unidentified flags | 2013 |
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Below is a series of images of flags that have been provided to FOTW; some we have recognized, and some we have been unable to recognize. If you can help us identify any of these flags, please let us know! Contact the: UFE Editor.
Identification Key:
Image from Julia C. Morgan, 11 March 2014 - Drawing by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 12 March 2014
I am interested in date etc. Is it East African Railway and Harbour? Pin is marked with makers name DOW???, Birmingham.
Julia C. Morgan, 11 March 2014
It's not at like any of the flags we show at East African Railways and Harbours ensign page, but the abbreviation EAR&H seems pretty widely accepted as the East African Railway and Harbour.
Rob Raeside, 11 March 2014
At the Silver Makers' Marks - Birmingham Assay Office Website, a mark DOW, without additional unreadable letters, is reported as: David Dow, mark seen 1891 and 1896..1912 on Fob medal. Comment: Argyle Street, Glasgow.
This would seem a bit early for said company, though maybe a son might have continued the Dow business.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 23 March 2014
Image from Kathleen Lathom, 11 March 2014
This photo is of a sidemarked ship mug circa 1920s possibly up to early 1930s. Any ideas on the house flag?
Kathleen Lathom, 11 March 2014
This flag is on a white china mug. I have reviewed the shipping lines for several maritime nations, and although there are several in Germany that use this pattern, all seem to have some letters on them, or a device in the centre. The closest match I can find is Great Yarmouth Shipping Co., Ltd. in Britain, but again it should have some letters.
Rob Raeside, 12 March 2014
We do show per slatire blue over white for Pontevedra Maritime Province 1905-1933 (Spain), but I'm not sure that it would fit with a mug. I wonder if Kathleen Lathom can tell us more about the mug. Whether it's certain to be a ship mug, and whether it would have to be a shipping house flag. Anything about what country it came from, maybe, or any text or other flags shown on it.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 14 March 2014
Image from Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 26 August 2014
Kathleen considers that mugs were typically used on board and that they did tend to have flags on them. With the Grindley backstamp indicating the 1920's or so, and English manufactures having produced other Spanish crockery for ship use as well, she doesn't think Pontevedra would be out of the question. But apparently she doesn't have anything on the use or the origin, though.
It's very likely blue and white are the correct colours, as they are the inset on the mug; had the flag had a different colour, then it would probably have been done in that colour. Attached is a smaller version of her photograph of the mug.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 26 August 2014
Image from Jan Walls, 22 March 2014
I have just received this playing card, which is mentioned on "The World of Playing Cards", but I can't find what shipping line it is, would you have any idea please? It has Compania General de Navegacion Sociedad Anonima written on it.
Jan Walls, 22 March 2014
At first guess, I would say that is the name of the company, although there is a possibility that "Anonima" might mean "anonymous" or "unknown"". Neither my Spanish nor Google Translate know that word.
Rob Raeside, 22 March 2014
I'd say a Sociedad Anónima is actually a legal form of company, probably one where the owners/shareholders can not be forced to pay the company´s debts (hence, from a legal standpoint being anonymous).
Since the flag strongly suggests the company name starts with an "A", I´d go for the one staring us in the face: "Argentina". Or in full: Compañia General de Navegación Argentina, Sociedad Anónima. Would the "card" be a playing card, by the way, as there's a mention
here.
It says: "Argentina Compañia General de Navegación Sociedad Anónima was owned by A. M. Delfino (Buenos Aires) and was closely connected to Hamburg Sud, Hamburg. Delfino was well-known for the organization of cruises and the sale of tickets, and this circumstance later on gave rise to a new activity as travel agents."
There's a link to the Delfino website, (It's rather animation-based, which is not my thing to begin with, plus I currently don't have them running; would someone be willing to check whether there's information there?)
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 22 March 2014
Image from Ivan Sache, 22 March 2014
The "Argentina" company appears to have been established by Antonio M. Delfino (1853-1922), with the support of General Roca, President of the Republic, to operate scheduled lines between Buenos Aires and Patagonia. The line was inaugurated in 1901 by the SS Comodoro Rivadavia. No profit was obtained until 1908. From 1901 to 1922, the 11 ships operated by the company completed 564 journeys, transporting 151,762 passengers and 1,531,421 tons of freight. After the death of Delfino in 1922, the company was transformed into the Antonio M. Delfino SA. Marítima y Comercial maritime agency.
Sources: "Argentina" Compañía General de Navegación (S. A.) and this Detailed biography of A. Delfino.
Ivan Sache, 22 March 2014
Image from Russell Crowe. 30 March 2014
I have purchased a very old ensign flag and all that is written on it is "commodore", it is very well made and very old and smells very musty. I purchased it on the south coast near Portsmouth in the UK.
Russell Crowe. 30 March 2014
At first I thought this might be the commodore's flag from the Cunard Line, but the lion lacks the globe and crown, and is on a white diamond.
Rob Raeside, 30 March 2014
I'm thinking this is an old Commodore Shipping Lines flag, but will have to do a little research to verify that.
Clay Moss, 30 March 2014
Image from John G. Wild, 4 April 2014
Back in the 1980's My brother was stationed in Germany, he knew I was obsessed with flags back then, and when a friend of his returned from West Berlin with two unusual flags which he said he bought in Berlin, my brother talked his friend into selling them to him. He immediately sent them on to me as a birthday gift and shipped them back to me.
These flags were old then, and I have looked far and wide for what they may have been. The smaller flag, (about 6x11 feet) is stamped on the white (bunting?) material used for the hoist rope, "Deutche Gierung" and another stamp on the hoist of the same flag says "Hergestellt Berlin 22-07-1921."
The larger flag which is of exactly the same design but about 9x15 feet, is also stamped on its hoist but much of the stamped image is too badly blurred (like the ink got wet and ran) for me to read everything, but what I can make out is "Deutche Gierung" then "Herges.....(Blurred too badly to read,) 1924" and finally the final part of the stamp says "Minister......(once again, badly blurred ink,) Schiff....(more blurry ink,)..." and that's all the markings I can find.
Both Flags are of the Exact same design. Both flags are sewn from individual strips of cloth even the white stripes are separate material, so it can NOT be a flaw in the manufacturing process. Black, White, Red, with the arms. What makes these flags unusual to me is the narrow white fimbriation separating the Black Stripe from the Red, and again another one separating the Red Stripe from the Gold one.
One other detail, but it may not mean anything, the Arms on the smaller flag are in the center of the flag, while on the larger flag, it is offset slightly toward the hoist. the flags are currently in storage since I am in the process of moving and I cannot get to them. I have tried to recreate how they look as accurately as possible by copying a flag from the Internet and just adding the white fimbriations. I am dying to find out what these flags are, they are in nearly brand new condition aside from the obvious effects of aging on the material, which, considering their age, is remarkable. If you can find out what they are, please let me know. I hope this image helps.
John G. Wild, 4 April 2014
This is an odd arrangement with distinct fimbriations between the colour bands. The black-red-yellow was used by the Weimar Republic, 1919-1933, so your flag probably dates from that period, as seems to be confirmed by date stamps on it. The only flag I could find with an eagle on it is the President's flag from 1919-1921, and that had a white fimbriation around the eagle.
Rob Raeside, 4 April 2014
The reconstruction drawing looks like a strange version of the Federal Service Flag (already in use in Weimar times as Reich Service Flag). However, without photographs of the flag itself and, of course, of the stamps, anything more on these flag would be pure speculation.
And by the way: no, the flags are not 6 x 11 feet or 9 x 15 feet! They are and always were in metric units.
M. Schmööger, 4 April 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 6 April 2014
I was wondering if anybody has seen this flag before or if it´s a new UFE find. The picture was taken in October of 2013 during the Cambodian anti-government protests. The picture's caption reads: "A monk carrying a flag" which leads me to think it is a Buddhist flag
Source: ZASHNAIN.
Esteban Rivera, 6 April 2014
The photos at the above Wikipedia page show the flag (incompletely viewed) among the flags of Cambodia National Rescue Party which, together with the fact that it bears an inscription, suggests that it is actually a political flag, probably created during the protests.
Tomislav Todorovic, 6 April 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 6 April 2014
In this picture on Flicker one can see five flags (left to right): 1. Vinci, 2. SCA (Société Concessionaire d'Aéroport), 3. Cambodian flag, 4. UFE #1, and 5. UFE #2.
Vinci "is a French concessions and construction company founded in 1899 as Société Générale d'Enterprises"". Sources: Wikipedia and Vinci. Its flag is the company logo on a white horizontal flag.
Regarding the SCA, "on July 6, 1995, the Royal Government of Cambodia signed a concession agreement with the French-Malaysian joint venture company Société Concessionaire d'Aééroport (SCA), also refered to as Cambodia Airports, to operate Phnom Penh (PNH - Pochentong International Airport).
SCA is 70 percent owned by French Groupe GTM and 30 percent by Muhibbah Masterron of Malaysia. Source: The Pochentong International Airport (on Wikipedia}. Its flag is its logo on a white horizontal flag.
Can anybody help identify the other two UFE's in this picture?
Esteban Rivera, 6 April 2014
Groupe GTM is owned by Vinci, I think. The "M" in the last flag sure looks like that of Muhibbah Masterron.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 13 April 2014
Vinci Construction acquired Groupe GTM in 2001. I believe Muhibbah Masterron is a Malaysian and/or Cambodian Holding Company. The SCA (Société Concessionnaire de l'Aéroport) administers and runs the airport, but is pretty well is controlled by Vinci and Masterron. According to the Phnom Penh International Aiport Blog "SCA is 70% controlled by Vinci Group (Vinci) from France and 30% by a local holding company, Muhibbah Masterron (Cambodia) Company Limited (MMC). [The] Muhibbah Masterron (Cambodia) Company Limited (MMC) is 70% owned by Muhibbah Engineering Berhad (MEB) and 30% owned by two local Cambodian businessmen, Mr Okhna Kong Triv and Mr Okhna Hann Khieng. Contacts for Muhibbah Masterron (Cambodia) Company Limited are very unclear, it could be a shell company."
Anyway I believe all these flags are corporate flags of the various companies controlling and operating the airport. Unfortunately, I can't make out all the flags clearly enough to be sure, but from left to right I'd agree that it would go Vinci, SCI, Cambodia, "unknown", and MMC.
Pete Loeser, 13 April 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 13 April 2014
(The UFE is on the right - The screen shot from the second video is mentioned below.)
In this BBC news report there are two embedded video. In the first video titled "Ukraine crisis: casualties in Sloviansk gun battles" as well as on the second video titled "Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk police headquarters stormed", there's an UFE flag, which is a horizontal flag which shows one element which is the Order of St. George orange/black stripes, but there's an inscription that goes along the flag and also what seems to be an unidentified logo or a CoA.
Esteban Rivera, 13 April 2014
Image from Victor Lomantsov, 13 April 2014
You saw the flag of the "People`s Militia of Donbass" (Narodnoe Opolchenie Donbassa), a movement founded in Donetsk in 2013. "Donbass" is an abbreviation of "Donetsk Coal Basin" (Donetsk Coal-Field), very often used as an alternative name of the region.
One note: Kramatorsk is not in Crimea. It is in the Donetsk region of continental Ukraine.
Victor Lomantsov, 13 April 2014
The flag above the megaphone looks like a Soviet navy flag. Is the object including the St.George stripes a flag or a poster on the entrance of the building?
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 20 April 2014
Well, considering there's a staff going up to it, I'd opt for a flag.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 20 April 2014
Since Victor kindly identified this flag, it's proper to have additional information on this flag and relocate it to where it belongs. I suggest within the Donetsk Republic.
"The Donbass People's Militia is an armed pro-Russian group that declared allegiance to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. It is formed of mostly civilians turned into informal militias with mismatched uniforms and unclear identities. They also hold several light guns and armour. They are mostly active in the Donetsk Oblast and are led by Pavel Gubarev, who was designated by protesters as their regional governor. Gubarev is a former member of the neo-Nazi Russian National Unity paramilitary group.
Since March 2, 2014 protesters began collect signatures for a referendum to define Donetsk's future. The members of Donbass People´s Militia were among them. In mid-March 2014, SBU began arrests of DPM leaders. Since early April, 2014, the militant group has seized control of several government buildings in Eastern Ukraine such as in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. There's currently an Easter truce. The DPM is one of several pro Russian groups in the area (others are: Donetsk Republic [organization], Army of the South-East, Lugansk Guard, Denikin Volunteer Brigade of Lugansk, Antifascist Movement [composed of Borotba, Ukrainian Choice, Antifascist Committee of Ukraine and Russophone Ukraine] )."
Sources: Wikipedia: Donbass People´s Militia and Pro-Russian Unrest in Ukraine.
Esteban Rivera, 20 April 2014
Speculative image from Tomislav Todorovic, 15 April 2014
I got a message from a friend of mine in Portland, OR, USA. He said that he was driving around and saw a flag flying by a house at the side of the highway that was unfamiliar.
"At first I thought it was a Greek flag, because that's what it looked mostly like. But then I noticed that the canton instead of the cross had a blue/white checker pattern, like the maritime signal flag for 'N', but without so many squares, I think. I don't think there was anything further on the flag, but I couldn't tell for sure as it was hanging in pretty low wind."
It apparently had a blue and white horizontally striped field, canton of blue and white checkers (if I’m picturing it right). Any ideas?
David Kendall, 10 April 2014
Only that the November flag has 4x4 squares. So, to reduce that, you'd get 3x3, which is basically a fat cross with the centre voided. And if it wasn't all that readable, I'm not even sure about that voided centre.
I hope your friend recalls where he saw it, so he can apply identification method #1, but for now I'm going with a Greek flag with (if it really was different) the cross as it is in the Greek arms.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 20 April 2014
Image from Robert Leek, 21 April 2014
I live in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, and am an amateur flag collector and retailer. Recently I was contacted by one of our local museums, enquiring about replacing a flag that is in their display collection. It has become frayed, and they wish to purchase a new one. They believe that the flag, pictures of which are attached, come from a small German settlement which arrived some time ago. Specifically, they believe that this flag was carried to Canada by Hessians in the 18th Century, so this may have some military significance. In any event, I was wondering if you would be able to identify the origin of this flag, or suggest contacts who could help.
Robert Leek, 21 April 2014
At the first glance it seems to be the reprint of a Brunswick infantry colour, in this case probably a colonel's colour due to the white background, used either by the 1st company or later on by the 1st battalion. The motto and the horse forcene with basement (which might have been white or green on the original colour) match my hypothesis. About the cypher (a double "C") I have no idea. You might take a look at the War Flags website; Your flag is not listed there, but you will find evidence to other Brunswick military colours.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 April 2014
Thank you for your quick and most interesting response. I will share this with the museum in possession of the banner. I imagine that they will wish to conduct their own research, and would probably like to reproduce the banner as well (at some expense, I would imagine). If you discover anything further (The double "C"" for example), please continue to share.
Rob Leek, 22 April 2014
In case of Brunswick the Colonel´s Colour is later called Duke's Colour.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 April 2014
This looks like a modern reproduction of an eighteenth-century colour of an infantry regiment from Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Information on the colours of Brunswick regiments during this period is fragmentary, but the flag in the photo most closely resembles the colonel's colour (Leibfahne) of the von Riedesel Regiment. However, the colour of the field is normally given as yellow, and the flames are usually depicted as a slightly darker blue. The C, doubled and reversed, is the cipher of Duke Carl, who reigned from 1734 until 1780. The cipher and wreaths should all be silver. The other colours of the regiment were in the reverse colours - blue with yellow wavy 'flames'.
The regiment served in North America during the War of Independence, and was captured at Saratoga. Although the colours were supposed to be surrendered, members of the regiment hid them from their captors and returned them to Germany.
Sources: Wikipedia on von Riedesel and the Saratoga campaign.
Perhaps the community was formed originally from some veterans of the regiment, who chose to remain in Canada rather than return to Europe. A group has recreated the Von Riiedesel Regiment.
The original colour would be painted silk, but I came across a printed polyester version at Universalhandel24. (other flagmakers are available!)
Ian Sumner, 23 April 2014
Your comment again is very helpful, and confirms my supposition. As I haven't enough knowledge about Brunswick military colours, I didn't dare to speculate about the yellow colour. It would be more helpful, if Rob Leek could provide us with a photo of the original flag, which is to be restored in the museum mentioned by him.
Neubecker (1939) displays a similar colour, black with yellow flames and dates it 1780 (Regiment Prinz Friedrich).
Now the things I want to know:
Image from Esteban Rivera, 20 April 2014
[This new enquiry is related to the flags discussed at UFE14-21 - Ed]
This picture from the Siberian Times newspaper shows a set of four flags, and they are (from left to right):
I think the UFE Flag #1 is that of a commercial enterprise called "Highrise Service". They may be a sponsor of expedition? To me, this orange item looks like a big air bag with logo.
On Flag #2, a bad photo, but I think I read letters "Nizhnevartovsk..." (a city in Siberia), maybe a flag of some regional organization?
Victor Lomantsov, 20 April 2014
These have been identified as the flags of Donetsk County and Slovyans´k city and are located in the main database.
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 May 2014,
Perhaps the Chamber of Crafts of Drivers and Vehicles(?) or Chamber of Drivers and Mechanics(?) - in Turkish: Sofõrler ve Otomobilciler Esnak Odasi - probably branch or member of Turkish Drivers and Vehicles Federation(?) (Turkish: Türkiye Soförler ve Otomobilciler Federasyonu).
The flag is white with the logo in its centre. The name of the organization is on the red bordure of the logo.
See also Türkiye Sofõrler ve Otomobilciler Federasyonu (in Turkish).
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 May 2014
Esna Odasi means "tradesmen". Judging by the map it also should say Izmir somewhere. Each chamber has its own flag, By the way, offering scope for flag ferreting.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 1 May 2014
This can be seen better in this photograph, where it can be seen that the lower grey bit in the emblem in Michael's image is a steering wheel symbol, and the upper bit, hidden in part by the fold, is the mention of the city. This specimen does not have the grey border around the emblem, however. on the other hand, the 1965 is clearly readable here.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 2 May 2014
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 May 2014
It is a celestial blue flag with logo in its centre. The logo shows a hand or glove and an aeroplane above the hand. The whole is superimposing a blue annulet, which might bear the name of the organization. I spotted this flag on 16 April 2013 at Istanbul Airport. I believe it has something to do with airport service and maintenance.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 1 May 2014
DEVLET HAVA MEYDANLARI ISLETMESI? (I. S, I.) With separately the letters "DHMI" coming out of the hand across the bottom of the circle.(I.) In as much as the "General Directorate Of State Airports Authority" has something to do with such things.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 1 May 2014
As Peter Hans mentioned, it is the General Directorate of State Ports Authority (of Turkey).
Esteban Rivera, 2 June 2014
It´'s "Ports" in general? Not just airports? Hm, I don't think I noticed that at the time.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 2 May 2014
Images from Dave Martucci, 3 June 2014
I have been asked to comment on this supposedly CSA flag, which I very much doubt. But I have never seen anything like it. The motto is either Palus Damus or Paius Damus or Palvs Damvs (next to last letter in each word is constructed as a "V" with a horizontal line over it, perhaps Palus Damus. Google translate says it is Lithuanian meaning "Ladies of Palus" but that doesn't make any sense either as there is no city of that name in Lithuania (there is a Palus in Finland, but never mind).
The owner says: "Others have looked at it that are flag experts and they all agree it is Civil War era, but one super expert/dealer who has only seen the pictures said it was a fake within minutes of my sending him the pictures. He did not send me through his procedures nor charge anything, but he did tell me that I was was stupid and shouldn't get ripped off and should stay away from auctions.
As far as other opinion's, what was most striking was Dan's (from Michigan) who I have know for quite some time now, and who has dealt strictly in flags for a few decades, said that the color and size of the guidon jumped out at him and his first response was 'Louisiana' and Civil War, but these are ducks, not pelicans. Still, this was his impression. I do not know if it is wool or cotton, it is not silk. Roger Dary said it was Civil War, and I have seen him point out details about flags that other 'Flag Experts' have missed, insane details that belie his opinion.
As to it being from Louisiana, the guidon may have been made or imported through New Orleans. I don't know, but I am researching the emblem and motto, Palus Domus (Swamp Home) in Latin, and possibly (Rally Round the Flag 'pole'") in German, but am having little luck. Though, it appears that if it is Civil War, it is Confederate, as it was pointed out to me by the State of Ohio Historic Society Museum (and Flag) curator, that most all Union flags were in the national colors. I thought it might be from the Kankakee Swamp of Great Black Swamp of northern Ind/Ohio, but found no supporting evidence other than some fiction writers who named one of the imaginary countries in their sci-fi series Domus Palus, and they were from Indianapolis, Indiana.
However, if it is Confederate, there are thousands of swamps up and down the Mississippi and into the interiors of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, not to mention Florida and the Great Dismal Swamp on the N. Carolina/Va border. A lot of ground to cover to be sure. This guidon came out of a midwest collection with a number of Civil War swords and guns."
Dave Martucci, 3 June 2014
Looks like a yacht club flag, as to time period, hard to say from the pictures. What is the evidence that its Civil War period from those who say it is and is it the American Civil War or some other?
Tom Martin, 3 June 2014
I have high doubts that it is anything Confederate at all. The ducks with the twin heads and the interesting slogan underneath suggest something European to me. There are European battle flags that have similar bird designs with the twin heads - Prussian I think - and with different types of birds?
Greg Biggs, 3 June 2014
At this point, you know almost everything I know. I don't see the evidence. I do have some closeups of the hem and header but there is nothing special there. It is all somewhat poor machine stitching and the fabrics look like late 19th-early 20th century cotton bunting to me (but it is always hard to tell from photos).
As to the CW connection, I think it is pure guesswork and, of course, it must be CSA because it obviously isn't USA. Huh?
Dave Martucci, 4 June 2014
Image from Rock Island Auction
The flag came with a sword in the Rock Island auction. Could the sword be a clue? Contrarian that I am, "Swamp Home" fits to me along with the two headed duck as something Americana. The shield and duck are on both sides apparently, this to me is interesting, almost like it designates an actual physical place, like maybe a plantation.
Al Sumrall, 3 June 2014
I was unaware of this page and the photo of the reverse. The motto on the reverse is in a slightly different style, showing as Palus Domus for sure. It is claimed to be Latin, but Latin doesn't use diacritical marks, so that seems off to me. With the correction of characters, Google Translate now says it is Latvian for "Large Thoughts" (literal: "Pile of Thought"). This seems like a motto to me.
The lady next door was born in Latvia and speaks it fluently (she was born in Riga the day the Russians entered in 1940 and her folks fled to Germany for safety!) and I will show her the flag and get her thoughts.
Dave Martucci, 4 June 2014
This just reinforces my belief that this flag has European connections and not American Civil War.
Greg Biggs, 4 June 2014
Palus is probably a pale, and the Latter Day Saints are organized in pales (here in Hamburg there is a "pale house". So it may be a Mormon flag in the end? Maybe I am completely wrong. But the duck is "really" odd.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 June 2014
With the Latvia motto it just might be a World War I or World War II souvenir. I can't see the burgee having a CSA relationship, unless it has a Latvian duck dynasty connection.
Tom Martin, 4 June 2014
Although "At home in the floods/swamps" ("Palus Domus") would be very nice meanings, I don't think there's a language that translates both words that way, except when ignoring the suffixes.
Writing a dash over a u, to indicate it's an actual u, is a style that in some European countries was still taught in the first half of the 20th century. I don't know how this was in the US. It would seem quite appropriate for writing Latin, and this may have been its origin; it's not, however, limited to a specific language.
I don't think I've ever seen the that specific two-pointed shield shape before. It's a bit reminiscent of the Genoese shields.
The mallard can be found on all continents (with the possible exception of Antarctica). They are not usually two-headed, however. I would say that the only birds that are frequently observed to be two-headed are the eagles of the Holy Roman Empire and its Rus, German, and other descendent traditions. This mallard would appear to be a reference to those.
The scroll is placed under the mallard, but not below the shield. It would currently be somewhat unusual, but I don't know whether it's enough to select or exclude specific heraldic styles. Ideally the motto would be a positive expression and be related to the charge. This would seem to make bad Latin about a duck in the water more likely than a Latvian translation about a duck with great thoughts.
I don't know much about it; these are just some things to ponder. As far I'm concerned it may equally well be the flag or a Venetian regiment, a World War I impromptu American mockery of the Kaiser or a Baltic American immigrant's house flag to fly Home Swamp Home on his cabin.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 4 June 2014
Ducks from some swamps, right? Haven't you heard of a Swamp Duck?
Still would like some comment on that sword if possible.
Would an analysis of the material or ink bring anything to light?
Isn't the "O" in the DOMUS on the reverse a Greek "O" with that vertical line through it?
Maybe its in "Duck Latin"...sorry.
I agree it appears to have no American military hertitage at all with what is known unless it hung out over a restaurant or saloon.
Al Sumrall, 4 June 2014
Oh, the man from Buda. It does remind one of the pub or tavern signage used in the viking part world.
The only thing I know about swords is that the pointed end is the end you stab someone with.
Tom Martin, 4 June 2014
Image from Rock Island Auction
It's described as a "Staff and Field Officer's style sword without scabbard" on the auction house website. Unfortunately, that is a fairly generic wire-wrapped saber, common in both Europe and North America in the 1800s, so no help there.
Pete Loeser, 4 June 2014
OCD kicking in and doing a lot of useless research, but I wonder if it could have been a masonic flag from Lithuania (ok, you win about the significant probability of the flag being Lithuanian). This might suggest a reason for it's survival and it's two headed birds (no ducks yet) are apparently found a lot in Masonry and not all the flags have complex symbols although maybe the flag has hidden ones (conspiracy theory angle). Lithuanian Freemasonry was extinguished by decree in 1827 so the symbols would be very rare today and it would be a collectors item in that milieu.
The owner might want to turn to the the Lithuanian Masons of today who could delve into Lithuanian Masonic history. Maybe it's survival is incidental to a Lithuanian who migrated the United States after/during the famine. The Lithuanian famine was in the late 1860's as you all know.
Suddenly I am getting deja vu like I wrote this before, this two headed duck is apparently getting to me, so I'd better put it out of my mind. Unfortunately I have a cat that quacks (it's name is Queenie, but my son nicknamed it Quackers because it quacks when petted) so the two headed duck will probably hang around in my head for a while...until the next mystery I cannot solve.
Al Sumrall, 5 June 2014
Image from James Dignan, 8 June 2014
Amazingly, after never having seen a double-headed duck on a coat of arms, someone on the Facebook Flags of the World page has posted another one! The Indian city of Mysore also has that rather unusual emblem on its arms and flag.
James Dignan, 8 June 2014
Image by Sarvagnya, 8 June 2014
I found that the "double ducks" are actually from the "medieval" City of Karnataka. It is the Gandaberunda emblem found in the Mysore Palace and now the official emblem of the Karnataka state in India.
All this is rather "ducky", isn't it , but we still haven´t actually identified the flag in question.
Pete Loeser, 8 June 2014
Image from Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 June 2014
The shot was taken in Istanbul during a Rally against PM Erdogan. The light blue flags are in PKK style but not in PKK colours (celestial blue White red instead of green yellow red).
Source: Tagesschau (German TV News) 15 May 2014.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 4 June 2014
This flag is of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (Turkish: Ezilenlerin Sosyalist Partisi, ESP, Kurdish: Partiya Sosyalîst a Bindestan, PSB). It is a Kurdish-based Marxist-Leninist political party in Turkey. It defines itself as "a militant revolutionary socialist party fighting for a workers'-labourers' federative republic in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan." The party is one of the participants in the Peoples' Democratic Congress, a political initiative instrumental in founding the Peoples' Democratic Party in 2012.
Sources: Wikipedia and
the ESP Party website (in Turkish).
Zoltan Horvath, 4 June 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 16 June 2014
In the Ministry of Defence of Iraq's official website, there's a video of reported captured terrorists who are conducting several attacks in the recent fighting in the country that led to the capture of Mosul, Tikrit and other cities by several armed movements, most notably the ISIS (or ISIL). In this video, there's supposed to be an Iraqi Army Infantry Unit flag in the background where these captured fighters are being interrogated. The flag seen in the background during the interrogation, follows the same pattern as a flag reported by Eugene Ipavec on December 27, 2010.
Esteban Rivera, 16 June 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 21 June 2014
"The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP) ( in Somali: Xisbiga Hantiwadaagga Kacaanka Soomaaliyeed - XHKS - in Arabic: Al-Hizb Al-Ishtiraki Al-Thawri Al-Sumal) was the governing political party in Somalia from 1976 to 1991. It succeded the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC), which took control of the country after a coup d'Etat from 1969."
In this SRSP poster one can see four flags on the bottom. The only identifiable flag is the third flag (from left to right), the flag of Somalia . The other three flags are unidentified.
Sources: Supreme Revolutionary Council and the Supreme Revolutionary Council.
Esteban Rivera, 21 June 2014
Seems to be the flags of a single party, the youth brabch, the women brabch and the single Trade Union flag.
Jaume Ollé, 23 June 2014
Image from Esteban Rivera, 21 June 2014
I've found this flag (on right), a Somali flag, most likely a Police flag. If anybody can identify it, please help.
Esteban Rivera, 21 June 2014
I have found a positive ID for UFE14-44. It is, as proposed by the submitter himself (Esteban Rivera), the flag of the Somali Police Force.
Daniel Lundberg, 4 July 2014