Confederate Silk Bible Flag in the Form of a Battle Flag All silk construction, all hand stitched with twelve painted gold stars . Double sided, 12" X 12 7/8". Top with a dark stain, has been folded and the red silk is split at the creases, blue cross perfect, gold stars exhibit minor wear, silk border on three sides have minor wear and flaking.
Was framed at one point, accompanying the flag is the back of the framing on which is taped an old typed note which reads "This is the original model of the Confederate battle Flag designed by Belknap of Mobile who gave this model to Edward Bloch ( then age 12 ), who was the father of Alexander Bloch, now of Sarasota, Fla. The flag was buried in a tin can in his parents back yard by Edward Bloch when Mobile capitulated to the Union forces under General Canby. The flag was dug up from its Dearborn Street burial some months later and was handed down to Alexander Bloch to whom it now belongs . This flag is not identical with the original Stars and Bars of the Confederacy."
With this flag comes a copy of the compeling story of Edward Bloch written as a memoir to his family relaying the details of how he buried the flag in order to keep the Union forces from taking it. Jackson O. Belknap was a painter, flag maker in 1861 working in the area of Edward's father's music business at 55 Dauphin St. in Mobile. An 1861 Mobile City Directory lists Belknap's office as "upstairs" at 28 Dauphin Street.
A beautiful little Confederate flag worthy of more research.