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# 44 Star Flag - (1891-1896) (U.S.)

##

Last modified: 2026-07-18 by rick wyatt
Keywords: forty-four | united states |
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image by Clay Moss, 7 February 2007

- Description of the flag
- Jack
- Peace Flag 1891
- Alternate Designs

See also:

- History of the Stars and Stripes
- U.S. Historical flags
- United States of America

## Description of the flag

In 1891, one star was added, representing Wyoming, bringing the total number of stars to 44. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998

This flag flew from 4 July, 1891, to 3 July, 1896.
Clay Moss, 7 February 2007

Photo of flag

image located by William Garrison, 28 April 2026

From https://www.bonsellamericana.com

U.S. 44-star, "walking stars" variety.
William Garrison, 28 April 2026

## Jack

image by Clay Moss, 7 February 2007

## Peace Flag

image by Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998

Peace Flag (1891) - As depicted in the postage stamp, it consists of 13 stripes, blue canton with 44 5-pointed stars in rows of 8-7-7-7-7-8, the whole surrounded by a white border.
Dave Martucci, 17 October 1999

From the stamp:
Using their First Amendment rights, Americans have enthusiastically pursued religious, social, and political goals and modified the flag to show commitment to country and cause. Dedication to world peace was once symbolized by this flag.
Rick Wyatt, 18 July 2001

image by Joe McMillan, 2 January 2004

Seen on the famous black and white photograph (original in the National Archives, Washington) by one of five of Peary's companions holding staff-mounted flags on an ice hill--blocks piled up by a pressure ridge--at the pole. The variant carries the text "Peace among all Nations."
Joe McMillan, 2 January 2004

## Alternate Designs

image by Albert S. Kirsch, 21 April 2014

I was sent this image of a flag which was handed down from their grandparents. It is an usual pattern with the number 6 hand written near the grommet.
Albert S. Kirsch

image by Clay Moss, 15 April 2007

A different lay-out of stars was seen on a 90 inch x 144 inch flag posted on e-bay.
William Garrison, 15 April 2007

image located by William Garrison, 7 June 2024

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276362900112

A 44-star flag variety; with slight differences in the way the rows are laid out or staggard when compared to the FOTW drawing by Clay Moss, 15 May 2007
William Garrison, 7 June 2024

image located by William Garrison, 22 February 2025

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/306112720452

A U.S. 44-star flag with a star arrangement of 7/7/8/7/8/7.
William Garrison, 22 February 2025

image located by William Garrison, 23 April 2026

From https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintageflags

A U.S. 44-star flag variation with a "square" or "flush 4-sided canton" with an 8/7/7/7/7/8 star arrangement. Size: 2'x3'.
William Garrison, 23 April 2026

image located by William Garrison, 28 April 2026

From https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/folk-art

Notes by the seller: "44 stars configured into the letters "U.S.", patented in 1890 by W.R. Washburn; one of only four known surviving examples. A patent for this design was issued to William R. Washburn of Plymouth, Massachusetts on August 12th, 1890. The patent date is stenciled in black along the reverse of the hoist binding. Washburn's drawing that accompanied the pattern actually assigned a state to each star, though in no apparent order. This begins with the State of Maine in the upper left. Texas is represented by the period after the letter "U" and California by the one after the letter "S". New York is near the top of the "U". The 44th state, Wyoming, gained its statehood on July 10th, 1890, prior to the patent's issue date. It is of interest to note that Washburn's drawing shows only 42 stars, omitting both Wyoming and Idaho, which had entered the Union on July 3rd, 7 days prior to Wyoming and just one day before the turn of the official "flag year"." .... size: 74" x 120" ....
William Garrison, 28 April 2026

image located by William Garrison, 28 April 2026

From https://store.thehistorylist.com/products

U.S. 44-star flag with 8/8/7/7/7/7 star arrangement in 6 rows; size approx. 40"x31".
William Garrison, 28 April 2026

### Circular Medallion design

image located by William Garrison, 19 October 2025

From https://historical.ha.com

U.S., 44-star circular-medallion pattern flag. 30" x 24" cotton flag with forty-four stars in the canton.
William Garrison, 19 October 2025

### 5/6/5/6/5/6/5/6 pattern

image located by William Garrison, 10 June 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/political/textile-display-pre-1896
Caption from ad: "A 44-star American flag of silk construction, measuring approximately 36-3/8" x 57-7/8", with a canton displaying a vertically oriented star configuration arranged in rows of 5/6/5/6/5/6/5/6. The stars are aligned in strict rows rather than scattered, with the vertical orientation lending an unusual and visually distinctive character to the design."

William Garrison, 10 June 2026

### 8/7/7/7/7/8 pattern

image located by William Garrison, 10 June 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/military-and-patriotic
Caption from ad: " A 44-star American flag measuring approximately 67-3/4" x 100-1/2", distinguished by an unusual vertical orientation of its star pattern. While the configuration follows an 8/7/7/7/7/8 count, the rows are arranged from hoist to fly rather than in the more typical horizontal format. The first row aligns along the hoist, the last along the fly end of the canton, with the remaining rows distributed between, creating a distinctive and visually uncommon presentation. .... Constructed with machine-sewn cotton stripes, the canton features cotton stars that are hand-sewn and double-appliquéd, reflecting quality workmanship within a commercially produced flag."

William Garrison, 10 June 2026

### 8/7/7/7/7/8 staggered horizontal configuration

image located by William Garrison, 10 June 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/military-and-patriotic
Caption from ad: "44-star American flag measuring approximately 61-1/8" x 114"... Constructed with machine-sewn wool bunting stripes and hand-sewn, double-appliqué cotton stars.... The stars are arranged in a typical 8/7/7/7/7/8 horizontal configuration, but the design is distinguished by the vertical alignment of the stars, requiring the shorter 7-star rows to be alternately shifted and creating a series of "notches" along the edges of the pattern."

William Garrison, 10 June 2026

### Scattered stars pattern

image located by William Garrison, 10 June 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/military-and-patriotic/spanish-american-war
Caption A 44-star American flag measuring approximately 57-1/2" x 87", featuring a highly unusual total "scatter star" pattern. Constructed of wool bunting with machine-sewn stripes and , the flag displays hand-sewn, stars.

William Garrison, 10 June 2026