Rhode Island Regiment Flag, Cotton Rhode Island Regiment Flag

OK. So this is one of those instances where I reveal my flag geek propensities. This is a very cool flag find for several reasons. First, it is a cotton flag. The time was when loads of flags were made in cotton. Now hardly any are. But this is a closeout item from the old days. When they are gone, there are no more. Second, The Rhode Island Regiment was a the first all black unit in America. It distinguished itself during The Revolutionary War. Among other action, it took part in the assault of Redoubt 10 at Yorktown. Just Google its name and check it out. Third, the historical evolution of its design elements. Compare it to the modern day flag of Rhode Island and you will the anchor and motto have survived. Fourth, the construction details of this flag are for any flag geek, well, just thrilling:
Look at the richness of the fabric and the appliquéd stars. This is just a throwback to the good old days.
	Look close up and you can tell this is not a modern machine printed flag. I bet these were silk-screened by hand. I like the subdued colors and off white background. The artwork also has a kind of homespun quality to it. Modern day flags would look much more perfect.
Fair warning, the canton may not be perfectly cut.	Heck, I even dig the thick natural looking canvas heading and all the stitching that went into it.
	Check it out! You can even make out the hand stamped address of the old Emmerson Flag Company in San Francisco.
They just don't make headings like this anymore.
Cotton Flags: For some folks, there is nothing quite like them. Cotton has a very warm and traditional appearance. Sadly, since we got into this business in 1977, cotton flags have almost entirely disappeared from the market. Back then, all states and most historical flags were still manufactured in cotton. But cotton has always been less durable than nylon from some points of view. It is heavier, especially when wet, so cotton flags do not fly as well. They put more stress on poles and hardware than nylon. In addition, cotton seemed to be a constant problem for manufacturers to print on; there were always ongoing problems with the inks and dyes not being color fast. Especially reds. Cotton was just a trickier fabric. In fact, these flags should be treated with care. Flying them in the rain could cause some dyes to bleed. So don't do that. That was forever a danger of cotton flags. They were always advertised as color fast, but there was always a chance a color might run depending on the batch. But they are beautiful. For purists and aficionados, there is nothing quite like them. So embellish your front porch on a nice day, hang one in a gym or on a wall. Or pick up a piece of flag manufacturing history of the old Emmerson Flag Company as a unique gift for your favorite vexillologist.