Featured 48-star American Flag

Arizona became a US state in 1912, and Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, so this 48-Star flag dates to between them.

At first I thought it might be silk, but I've since learned about 'artificial silk', starting first with Rayon (a US trade name for a 'semi-synthetic' fiber invented in the late 19th C and in wide-spread use by the 1930's) and Nylon (a fully synthetic fiber even more widely used, its availability having been accelerated by WW2).

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_silk]

This flag measures 52" wide by 63" long (132 x 160 cm), making it wider relative to its length than many US flags seen today.

So, when might this flag have been made? What is it made out of? Any other info about it?

I found it at a flea market in rural Oregon state.

All comments appreciated. Thanks in advance!



Reverse side:

Damage:



Light seen through the fabric:

 

According to the Valley Forge Flag Co. website, they didn't open their Spring City, PA flag factory until the 1930s so it's no older than that.
You could try contacting them for more info.
The fabric looks at least semi-synthetic to me.

EDIT: Hmm, they may not be of help after all. I found the following in their FAQ...

Valley Forge Flag does not add any date or mark to a flag when it is manufactured, so there is no way for us to determine the age of a flag. We believe that the value of a flag is a reflection of the emotions that are at the source of its ownership, and we can’t therefore guess at how valuable your flag is. You can visit this site, though www.vexman.net for further information, and possibly a written assessment, of your antique flag. We do not recommend their services, endorse or authorize their response to you.

and this...

Many 48-star flags were manufactured before, during and after World War II. These flags were usually made from either cotton or a cotton-wool blend. Some of the flags are casket flags, meaning that they measure 5’x9 ½’ instead of 5’x8’. These flags are made to be placed on a casket during a funeral. Since Valley Forge Flag does not add any date to a flag when manufactured; there is no way to determine just how old a flag is. It is perfectly acceptable to fly United States flags with fewer than 50 stars. 48-star United States flags rarely hold any monetary value, only sentimental value. Usually a flag only has monetary value if it can be directly linked to a major historical moment, such as the flag raised over Iwo Jima, or the flag used during John F. Kennedy’s funeral, both of which were made by Valley Forge Flag.

 

the holes...likely mean some content of natural material..

I don't see any grommets...... so that flag don't fly !

 

Thanks @bluumz! Appreciate the research.

As for things they say:

This flag is definitely neither cotton nor wool!

At 4'3" x 5'3" my flag is (thankfully) not a casket flag.

You know, they actually had both the Iwo Jima flag and JFK's flag at the same flea market, but I only had enough money for this one...

 

Sorry I should have better included these leather holes, one of them damaged:

 

I've not seen those before...... maybe an indoor flag.... that hung but did not fly !!

 

Made for indoor and special flags, the leather tab sits perfectly inside a pole sleeve for proper mounting to many kinds of pole setups.

 

u can get replacements easy..