A rare and early 13-star US flag has been consigned to Freeman's April 17 auction of American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts in Philadelphia.
It is expected to make $175,000-250,000.
 The ink used to inscribe the flag was mixed with sea water, revealing its nautical history |
According to the family who own the flag, Michael Patrick Patton (1870-1943), a decorator of patriotic flag displays, found it in a trunk. It originates from the 18th century, and bears a contemporary inscription from its one-time owner, Nataniel Ames (1761-1863).
Ames joined the New Long County Militia at the start of the US revolutionary war, and helped build Fort Griswold in Connecticut. He then served under Washington in 1780, before joining the crew of the privateer Marquise de Lafayette, with whom he travelled to Holland and the West Indies.
In November 2012, Freeman's sold one of the last battle flags from the US revolutionary war for $422,500.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a number of fascinating militaria collectibles for sale, including a proclamation signed by Harry Truman following the German surrender in 1945, which is inscribed to his cousin. We also have an extremely rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in 1848.
