A 21 Star American National Flag

the hand-sewn single appliqué cotton muslin stars configured into a very tightly formed Great Star or Great Luminary pattern on a two-piece hand-sewn wool bunting canton; the canton, resting on a red stripe, hand-sewn to the wool bunting stripes; linen sleeve, inscribed with two or three illegible inked initials, formed into a pocket enclosing a period braided rope; original re-enforcing patches at top of canton and at 13^{th stripe along hoist.}

When a flag's canton rests on a red stripe, often called a "blood" or "war" stripe, some collectors believe that such a flag was fabricated when our Nation was at war with "soldiers shedding their blood."  Since our Nation was no longer at war with England at this time, possibly the flag maker continued a custom more appropriate to the War of 1812.

 

The Great Star or Great Luminary star configuration was first proposed by Capt. Samuel Reid, a War of 1812 naval hero, but never officially approved by either the President or Congress.

 

Illinois was admitted into the Union as our 21^st state on December 3^rd, 1818.