A 15-star naval jack used in the Anglo-American war of 1812 has sold in Charles Miller's Maritime & Scientific Collectors Sale, held May 1 in London.
 The jack is made from four strips of bunting and is inscribed with Captain Brown's name |
The flag was offered from a private Belgian collection, making $18,000 ($27,997). It originally belonged to US captain Thomas R Brown (1785-1828), and sold along with an oil painting of the man during his days as a lieutenant of the US Navy, painted circa 1807.
Brown was born in Philadelphia, and saw action in both the first Barbary war (1801-1805) and the war of 1812. He was promoted to captain in 1825, with his commission signed by President James Monroe on his final day in office.
The 15-star flag was used by the United States between 1795 and 1818. Following British tradition, the American vessels flew three flags: the ensign at the stern, the jack at the prow, and the commission pennant at the main mast. The jack is raised only when the ship is in port or at anchor.
A unique collection of rare naval flags from the historic battleship USS Constitution broke 11 world records when they sold in April 2012. The 11 flags, all of which were fresh to the market, each achieved world records for their type. A rare 31-star, 16-foot ensign led the sale, bringing $158,000, while a cannonball recovered from the ship made $22,500.
Rare naval memorabilia is hugely collectible. We have a fantastic selection of Lord Nelson memorabilia for sale, commemorating England's greatest naval leader.
