#6. United States Revenue-Marine and Customs Flags: A New Perspective—David B. Martucci

Can you spot the correct 16 striped Cutter flag?

David B. Martucci was the 6th presenter at NAVA 54.  His topic delved into the story of the Marine Revenue Cutter flag, which is now used as an Ensign by the US Coast Guard.  This flag can trace its origins back to when Oliver Wolcott, Jr. was the Secretary of the Treasury. 

This flag received it official prescription on August 1, 1799.  It described this flag with 16 perpendicular stripes of alternate red and white with the Arms of the United States in the canton to be dark blue and on a white field.

Martucci pointed out, since the official description of the flag in 1799 had 16 stripes because there were 16 states in the Union.  Likewise many flags of the USA had 16 stripes as well. 

By the time 1818 rolled around the US had 21 states.  Thus many US flags has 21 stars with 21 stripes.  With too many stripes, the US flag was given its final modern design algorythm by Captain Samuel Reid; it states that the stripes would remain as 13 for history and the canton would add stars as states were included. 

The Revenue Cutter Marine also appeared on the Seal of several government organizations.  From 1874 until 1900 it was on the right side of the US Treasury Department Seal as used on Customs Documents from 1874 to 1900.  Likewise the US Customs Service Seal used it sometime in the 1880s and 1890s.

Note that before income taxes, a lot of cash for the government was raised with this 'Guardian Paramilitary Entry Port Custom's Duty Force'  better known as the Revenue Cutter Service.

Dave Martucci at NAVA 54 Online with Library of Congress - Can you spot the correct 16 striped Cutter flag?

 Later in the day the Revenue Cutter Service flag for the Confederacy was shown during last presentation by Jim Farrigan.  The Confederate Revenue cutter flag had seven stars in the canton and looked remarkably like to flag of France, minus the stars. 

Further details of Martucci's presentation is scheduled to a appear in an up coming issue of Vexillum.  Martucci was the president of  NAVA from 1998-2004. 


 Link to Martucci's Website:
http://www.vexman.net