Bolt of 48-Star American Flags with a Union Jack, Printed on Cotton, Circa 1945

Presented is an uncut bolt of printed flags on cotton, featuring a large 48-star American flag, a small 48-star American flag, and a small Union jack. Given the combination of a Union Jack and two American flags printed on the same bolt of fabric, it is likely these flags were printed to celebrate an Allied victory in the end of WWII. In 1912, following the admission of New Mexico and Arizona to the Union, two additional stars were added to the official United States flag design, bringing the total count to 48-stars. President Taft's Executive Order No. 1556, issued on June 24, 1912, standardized the canton of the stars on the U.S. flag to 6 even rows of 8 stars. The flag design is completed with 13 alternating red and white stripes, representing the original thirteen colonies. The 48 star flag flew from July 4, 1912 to July 3, 1949, a span of 47 years and two world wars. The Union Jack is a combination of the flags of three distinct nations- England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Th