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Authors Give Glory To Grand Old Flag

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By TIM CHONG

Published: October 7, 2007

'A Grand Old Flag: A History of the United States Through Its Flags,' by Kevin Keim and Peter Keim (DK Publishing, $30)

Certainly, all Americans know what the flag that George Washington carried across the Delaware in 1776 looked like: 13 red and white stripes, with 13 stars arranged in a circle on a field of blue.

Too bad that isn't true. If he carried one at all, according to the authors of 'A Grand Old Flag,' it was probably a blue flag with stars, no stripes.

This coffee-table book seems perfectly suited for the Fourth of July or Flag Day, but its release in September is still an occasion to celebrate. Generously illustrated with fine photographs of rare flags, it traces the evolution of Old Glory even before there was a Stars and Stripes or even a United States.

The book considers all aspects of the flag, from why stripes were an unusual choice for a national symbol (they represented shame more than pride in the 18th century) to how a respected astronomer's mechanical star clock probably led to the stellar display on the flag.

Each time a star is added, an example or two of that flag is shown. Considering the appearance of the flag was only regulated bit by bit (it wasn't until 1818 that it was even ruled the stripes had to be horizontal and 1912 that the stars should all point up) there's a wide variety of flag styles to take in.

'Flag' is not without flaws. The authors clearly love the subject of flag making, but the average reader may not care about the intricacies of weaving fabric or what plant produces linen. Also, minibiographies of famous Americans appear when their states join the Union, but not others. Overall, though, 'Flag' is worthy of a salute.

Tim Chong is a copy editor with the Tribune.

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