A Huge British Vintage Royal Navy Red Ensign Flag c.1930

Origin: British
Period: Early/Mid Twentieth Century
Provenance: By Decent of a Captain of an Esso Oil Tanker
Date: c.1920-40
Height: 70 inches
Width: 133 inches

Flying to around eleven feet long and double hand stitched in heavy cloth, this generously sized appliqué red ensign flag flew from a huge Esso tanker in the first half of the twentieth century and is offered for sale from a direct descendant of the Captain of the tanker.

There are no tears or rips, only some loss close to the toggle, and the overall condition, considering the age is superb. There are some very small moth holes, though nothing unexpected. There is a rope and softwood toggle for pole attachment, still in tact.

The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" as it’s endearingly known is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such flags sewn during the 1620s. It is currently used as the civil ensign of the United Kingdom.

This is a high quality ensign retaining lovely rich colours with huge appeal in knowing exactly where she once flew.