FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S FINAL PRESIDENTIAL AUTOMOBILE FLAG. A blue wool machine-stitched flag fe...

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S FINAL PRESIDENTIAL AUTOMOBILE FLAG. A blue wool machine-stitched flag featuring appliqué Great Seal of the Presidency heightened by hand-painting, and 4 applique stars, one in each corner, with Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot label. Some mothing. With notarized LOA, June 18, 2009, from L. Peyton Harris, Jr, identifying this flag as the 'last that flew on the limousine of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945' and confirming that his father, Col. L. Peyton Harris (Captain at the time), was one of two Marine aides assigned to FDR, the other being FDR's son James Roosevelt. H: 18 1/8 in; W: 25.5 in Provenance: made by Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot; used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1945; removed from Presidential Limousine by Capt. L. Peyton Harris, USMC, April, 1945 and retained by him until his passing, 2009; gifted to his son L. Peyton Harris, Jr. of Newport News, Virginia, 2009; sold Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas, Grand Format Political and Americana Auction, May 2009, lot 48374, to Zaricor Flag Collection. Presidential automobile flags were first used by President Wilson during his visit to Versailles after the First World War and have been used by every President ever since. They are a smaller version of the Presidential Color. Often executed in bunting and without fringe, they mark a vehicle carrying the American President. Unlike Royal standards, which signify the presence of a royal personage, presidential flags recognize the office holder. This small bunting flag was made at the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot out of wool bunting with cotton applique and stitching, with additional detail on the olive branch painted by hand. It was removed from the presidential limousine in Warm Springs, Georgia shortly after the death of FDR by aide United States Marine Corps (USMC) Captain Lawrence Peyton Harris (1918-2009). Captain Harris was a decorated veteran of the War in the Pacific where he had been awarded the Silver Star for valor. He served as a commissioned aide to President Roosevelt and was with the presidential party in Warm Springs in April of 1945, accompanying the remains back to the White House. He remained in the USMC after the war, eventually attaining the grade of colonel. Saleroom notices: This lot is not the flag sold as lot 48374 in Heritage's Grand Format Political and Americana Auction of May 2009 as listed in the provenance, but instead was sold privately by Heritage Auctions to the Zaricor Flag Collection (who had been the underbidder on 48374) in June of that year. All other mentions in the provenance line are correct. The cataloguer regrets the error. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing

Saleroom Notice:
This lot is not the flag sold as lot 48374 in Heritage's Grand Format Political and Americana Auction of May 2009 as listed in the provenance, but instead was sold privately by Heritage Auctions to the Zaricor Flag Collection (who had been the underbidder on 48374) in June of that year. All other mentions in the provenance line are correct. The cataloguer regrets the error.