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Postcard of the Original Star-Spangled Banner

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

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    Object Details

    Author

    Curt Teich & Co

    Subject

    Star-Spangled Banner (Flag)
    United States National Museum
    Arts and Industries Building
    National Collections

    Category

    Historic Images of the Smithsonian

    Notes

    The original Star-Spangled Banner is the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write his song of the same name after the American defeat of British forces at the Battle of Fort McHenry (September 14, 1812) during the War of 1812. The flag is on permanent exhibition at the National Museum of American History, in accordance with the wishes of its donor, New York stockbroker Eben Appleton.
    #4A-H2188. Genuine Curteich-Chicago "C.T. Photo-Colorit" Post Card. Curt Otto Teich (1877-1974), a German immigrant, founded Curt Teich & Co., which was a postcard printing company that operated from 1898 to 1978. The company specialized in view and advertising postcards, and was the largest volume printer of this type in the world from the 1920s to the 1940s. C.T. Photo-Colorit was a printing process used by Curt Teich & Co.
    This postcard is located in Accession #03-140, which is part of Record Unit 95.
    For another version of this postcard, see Negatives SIA2013-06667 and SIA2013-06668.

    Summary

    Postcard of the original Star-Spangled Banner which at the time was hanging in the United States National Museum, now the Arts and Industries Building. It is shown against a yellow background, and the front has white edging. The message side is blank.

    Contained within

    Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 45, Folder: 27

    Contact information

    Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

    Date

    1934

    Standard number

    SIA2013-07232 (front) and SIA2013-07233 (back)

    Restrictions & Rights

    No restrictions

    Type

    Postcard
    Linen

    Physical description

    Number of Images: 2; Color: Color; Size: 5.5w x 3.5h; Type of Image: Postcard; Medium: Linen

    Place

    United States

    Data Source

    Smithsonian Archives - History Div

    Topic

    Postcard
    American Flag
    Emblems, National
    Flags
    Museum exhibits
    Exhibitions
    United States - History--War of 1812

    Metadata Usage

    Usage conditions apply

    Record ID

    siris_sic_13804

    Discover More

    American flag whirligig

    Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue

    Facts about the United States Flag

    Facts about the Star-Spangled Banner

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