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Monday, June 29, 2020

Don't Tread on Me in Greek with Clash of the Titan's Medusa from Ray Harryhausen.



A flag for the Legend who stirred our Imaginations.  A Greeco-American Don't Tread on Me Flag featuring Ray Harryhausen's last most epic monster to grace the halls of world wide cinema.






Sunday, June 28, 2020

Laurin Stennis Mississippi State Flag - A State Flag in the Making

The Mississippi flag will change in the near future, by 2021.  Today the elected leaders of Mississippi are voting on whether or not to allow the flag to change.  In the aftermath of George Floyd riots, this is a part of the wake that is shaking the culture of America and the world, right now.

The most popular flag in the running for the New Mississippi, 21st Century flag is the Laurin Stennis design.  Her design is a radical departure from the current Mississippi State flag.  However Stennis's proposal maintains certain elements of Southern Flags and the Confederacy.

First, the colors of the Mississippi's flag are maintained: red, white, and blue.  The central blue star in the center is an inverted Bonnie Blue star.  Finally the red stripes on the left and right copy the final version of the Confederate flag of 1865 and the States Right's flag of 1861 when Mississippi left the Union.  Likewise the central white field of the Stennis design has a tangential echo of the white field of the second and third versions of the Confederate flag.

New elements not of Confederate design is the circle of stars, which is more a kin to the Betsy Ross flag—which is now considered a racist flag of oppression by many.

Consequently the Stennis flag is a flag created to heal and bind the wounds between brothers.  It just so happens to carry an echo of the Confederacy, the American Revolution, and honor the current national flag of Canada—our northern brothers and sisters who lost to the Original Rebs of 1776.    

Flag for Circumference and Symbol: Teth via the Radius

The flag for Circumference is based upon a combination of maritime flag numbers for six, two and eight.  Since the ratio value for circumference is always 2π, which 6.28.  In the image on the bottom this is best explained.

The flag is composed of the colours black, white, blue, and red.  Since Circumference is associated with the number 6, the International Maritime Coded flag for Six composes the outer portion of the flag.  The second value is 2/10ths which one decimal place to the right.  Further the final number that has representation in this flag is 8/100ths which is represented by red long cross on white.  No further numbers are represented, since it would make the flag exceedingly complex.


Circumference also deserves its own symbol.  In this case the Phonecian letter tet or teth is used to symbolize circumference.  Coincidentally Teth also means wheel.

Funny thing about π is that its value is half a circle.  A full circle is thus 2π.  Likewise have a Teth equals π; or 2π equals 1Teth.

Since there is celebration for πday every March 14th, there should be celebrated day for the entire circle as represented by Teths-Day, which happens every June 28th.  June 28th also happens to be the birthday of first American Woman to with the Nobel Prize of Physics in 1963 Maria Goeppert Mayer (June 28, 1906 – February 20, 1972).  Also, another key mathematician born in 6/28 was Henri Lebesgue (June 28, 1875 – July 26, 1941) who came up with the theory of integration. 


Funny thing is that π is an adored number, but it only represents half a circle.  So really on π-day you should only bake and eat ½ of a pie.  However on Teths-day (June 28) that is when you should bake or eat a circularly shaped item!  3.14 is so cool, but it is only half of the way around, you need to finish the circle at 6.28.  Every circle you play with be it a baseball, tennis ball, kickball, basketball, or frisbee is connected to a ratio of 6.28 on the any circle you touch.  Basically the distance to the rim of the circle to the center is 6.28 times the radius for any circle on a object.  

This makes more sense with trigonometry designations.  Because π/2 is only ¼th of a pie; in other words half of π is ¼ of a pizza pie; a whole pizza pie is made of of 2π. However,  ¼ of Teths is ¼ of an apple pie, and ½ of a Teths is ½ of any circular doughnut...Kapeesh?

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Galaxy Express 999 - Train Guidance Flags 銀河鉄道 999 (スリーナイン)

 銀河鉄道 999 or rather the Galaxy Rail Line 999 was first broadcast on Earth in the year 1978.  It was made for Japanese audiences, but has subsequently reached millions beyond.

It is a Space Opera of a Star Trek kind from Japan, with its own unique spin.  The story centers on lucky Earth boy who obtained a coveted galactic rail pass for Inter Galactic Travel.  His mission is to get a planet where flesh and blood organisms can get a cybernetic body for free.  Accompanying our young hero is May-teru, メーテル who is wise and beautiful figure of guidance and protection.  She is loving, intelligent, and powerful.  When she has to fight, you'll find yourself backing and rooting for her 100%. 

Finally, there is an alien train conductor that looks like a Jawa from Star Wars.  No doubt this series was inspired by Lucas's work, and space based science fiction reached a boiling point across the world in 1977.

In one commercial break still shot you can see Tetsuro (星野 鉄郎) riding on a train. He is holding a solid yellow flag in his right hand and white flag in his left hand.

The train conductor is an enigmatic fellow.  Notice the glowing eyes like a Jawa.  The Jawa conductor is your average policy nub, however time and time again he is forced to show his human side to his companions across the cosmos.

The series was written by 松本零士, Matsumoto Reiji of Kurume, Fukuoka.  He also had a hand in directing Starblazers also known as Space Battleship Yamato -宇宙戦艦ヤマ


 



Sunday, June 14, 2020

76 AD - Calibration Date for 76∞ Infinitum


Flag day 2020 brings into focus a flag dedicated to 76'∞ Infinitum.  This flag is the pre-septa' millennial flag for the year 76AD.  It is based upon the fusion of the 1776 American Betsy Ross flag, modern flag of Rome and ancient standards from the Roman Empire in the year 76.

The flag has stripes of golden yellow and red; the yellow stripes dominant.  In the canton is the Roman SPQR in an olive wreath.  SPQR means Senatus Populusque Romanus, which can be translated as: The Senate and People's Quorum of Rome.

Today, a quorum is the minimum number of persons needed for an assembly in order to conduct business.    Above the olive wreath is the Roman Eagle with cloud of 13 stars taken from the American Coat of Arms.  Thus this flag represents that the Dream of America is a timeless construct that was sleeping in the heart of Rome on June 14, 76.

Who knows what further dreams of the future will exist in the collective consciousness of 2176 or in the year 7676.  Will they remember the way and means of 1976 let alone 1076?  Will political correct language change so much that reading books from 2020 be banned, by the police or firehumans? Perhaps new political ideals will rise to surface that are hidden subliminally within our collective unconscious?

Although democracy is not an American invention, the seeds of modern America are partially derived from Ancient Rome.  Democracy as a governing body of persons is a timeless tradition practiced by all civilizations at one time or another in varying degrees.  However with the United States, the dedication to a democratic ideal rose to the surface as an honored and nearly sacred trust, that is to be maintained and protected.

The year 76 would have been a strange yet familiar world.  In the year 76, the second Pope, Pope Linus I passed away.  Linus was followed by Bronze Pope of Rome, Pope Anacletus I.    On the other side of the world the Jianchu Dynasty began.  In the Americas, the nations were in a dreamlike state of consciousness.  The triumphs and failures of the names of kings, queens, and country folk flowed in and out of consciousness, the details of 10,000 beautiful stories of struggle and glory were lost, until words were written.

Yet in another way, they were more awake to natural and primal forces of Nature.  Although the ancients of America could not read minds from the past, as we do today, they were better suited to read the unwritten word of Mother Nature and Father Sky.  Today, much of the modern mind is trapped in the overly precise and short sighted domain of words and symbolism.  Much has been forgotten on the way with the languages of  the Wind, Animals, Rocks, Earth and Heavens.

Nonetheless, this flag is dedicated to the spirits of 76'∞. 


NAVA 54 Vexibit—Startis Andredis: Septinsular Republic Flag

Startis Andredis presented a flag about the short lived Septinsular Republic that was trapped in the twilight zone between Russian and Ottoman Empires, in the after glow of revolutionary ambition stoked by Napoleon the Corsican.  The majority of the population was Greek, so in a manner of speaking it was the first precursor state to modern nation of Greece.

The flag looked much somewhat like the Republic of Venice.  After Napoleon's defeat this 'nation' became an autonomous zone from 1807 to 1815.  The British adopted these isles in 1815 and held sway until they proceeded to join Greece in 1864.

Andredis also showed us the Naval flag of the Septinsular Republic, which only had one ship.  The Naval Septinsular Republic flag had framing of yellow with an canton of St. Mark's lion on red within a blue field.

NAVA 54 Vexibit—Grant Owens: Vexillological Association of Kansas City

Grant Owens presented the flag and details about a relatively new vexillological association in Kansas City, Missouri—the Vexillological Association of Kansas City. The Flag has the standard V shape and uses the colours cyan, navy blue and white.

Links to the Group as as follows:
WEBSITE: https://vexikc.wordpress.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/VexillologicalAssociationofKansasCity/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vexikc
INSTAGRAM: @vexick

NAVA 54 Vexibit—Al Calavari: Annin & Co Postcard Recall Notice from 1917


Al Calavari showed us an artifact from 1917 as the United States entered WWI.  During such times the demand for US flags can increase.  Consequently Annin & Co. sent out a post card notice that older price quotes are hereby changed, due to 'unprecedented demand for U.S. flags.'

Often in times of crisis and before the start of new war there is collective patriotic push organically signaled by an durastic demand for US flags.

NAVA 54 Vexibit—Greg Hersh: A New Flag for Kodiak Island Proposal

Greg Hersh presented a vexibit for one of America's largest islands, Kodiak Island.  Currently, the city of Kodiak on Kodiak island has the typical rank and file seal on a field flag (RAFSOAF Flag).  Kodiak City's flag features four creatures: a bear, salmon, king crab, and prawn.

Hersh proposed a Kodiak Flag redesign in the 'Good Flag' style.  It is composed of a field of blue and black divided by a thin diagonal bend, from the lower hoist to upper fly.  In the middle is an eight pointed rose compass of green with white fimbration, with the cardinal points larger than the middle points.


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As stated in the opening speech by the current ICV president Zeljko Heimer, this is not vexillology.  Specifically, creating and designing flags is not vexillology.  But talking and writing about a newly designed flag flag is vexillology.  Likewise, the countless flag designs that become are not vexillology, until another person describes the flag: as within the descriptive-data collection field of vexillology.  It is a weird corner that the founder of vexillology has painted himself into and other would be vexillologists.

Further, Whitney Smith's fame as the founder of vexillology is critically dependent upon himself designing one particular flag... for Guyana.  Smith owes much of his gravitas and fame for not doing vexillology.  Ironically, the world remembers Whitney Smith best, for his non-vexilological work, which he himself does not consider to merit the inclusion within the definition of vexillology.

Smith's key footnote to world civilization is (from his perspective) as an artists, than as an academic.  The quandry for Smith is that he will always be best remembered as a vexillologist for a "non-vexillological achievement" as the primary flag designer for the nation of Guyana.  It seems quite illogical that excluding the creation of flags as a non-vexillological exercise.  Yet, Smith was able to recognize his own imperfections, he once stated it might have been a better idea to spelled this discipline as vexology or vexilology instead of vexillology.  Unto this day, vexillology catches flack from spell checks across the internet, as it is yet to be considered a real world by the matrix of machine mind, maybe a change in the spelling and definition of vexillology is in order?    

 

NAVA 54 Vexibit—Ted Kaye: A Rajneesh Flag from Oregon

Ted Kaye was personally given a flag from the Rajneeshi community of Oregon.  It has the iconic emblem of the red and white dive above a transitioning sun.  The background field is similar to the flag of Poland, but the red area is larger.

If you didn't know the Rajneesh community made headlines in 1981 to 1988 as an alternative and somewhat controversial experimental utopian community, that was derived from the culture of India.  The local US government had several issues with this American community tilted towards an India spiritual path, yet blended with new age ideals.  Unlike the tragedy of Waco, Texas with the Branch Davidians, bloodshed was averted.

The topic was of particular interest to Kaye, since the organization lived within his home state of Oregon.  Kaye is the primary author of Good Flag, Bad Flag.

He also expanded upon the wording of Bad Flag.  Bad Flag refers to 'Bad Flag Design' rather than a flag being bad or evil.  Thus Good Flag refers to good flag design, which is a flag that is recognizable and easy to determine from great distances.


NAVA 54, Vexitbit—Alex Gilkey: A New Kenyon Flag

Alex Gilkey presented a smooth version of the Kenyon College flag.  Kenyon College is a private Episcopal college located in Gambier, Ohio which is in the heart of Ohio near Columbus.  Gilkey proposed a streamlined armorial banner as a new flag for Kenyon College.   Currently, a blue flag with a white letter K represents the college in addition to a gold fringed flag with the coat of arms.

The shield was adopted in 1937 with the motto 'Valiantly Bear the Cross.'  There is an open book to represent learning.  Behind the book is a Bishop's staff.  The lower pattern represents Lord Kenyon's family coat of arms.   Also the crosses are indicative of Christianity.

Gilkey proposed a flag that is composed of the chevron with three white crosses.   It is a would be armorial banner for the Lord Kenyon. 

Saturday, June 13, 2020

NAVA 54 Vexibit—Peter Loeser: A Blue Jay World Series Championship Flag 2015

Pete Loeser gave a delightful presentation about a mysterious Toronto Blue Jays flag.  Apparently in some other quantum universe the Toronto Blue Jays went on to win Baseball's World Series in 2015...not!

Loeser pointed out that flags are often made before the eggs have hatched.  Much like when Truman beat Dewey in 1948 for the US Presidential Election or more recently when Newsweek printed magazines touting that Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 US presidential election.

The Jays lost in the American League Championship to the Kansas City Royals.  Nonetheless, these erroneous flags were made and sold.

Make no mistake that in the future, persons will apply the Mandela Effect to this flag and assume that this flag represents a crossing over point, where in some other Universe the Jays win.

The most famous examples for the Mandela Effect include the spelling of the Bearstain Bears vs Bearstein Bears and whether or not standup comic Sinbad from Michigan was in a movie as the Genie Shazam.

For the record, the Jays lost to the Mets in 2015, and the Mets lost to the fairy tale winners of 2015, the Kansas City Royals.

Loeser's Website: http://www.loeser.us/flags 


#8. A Flag Incident in San Francisco—Jim Ferrigan

Jim Ferrigan replayed his award winning presentation about A Flag Incident in San Francisco in 1984.  Back in 1984 the Confederate flag flew along side several other flags at the San Francisco State House.  Attempts to get it removed peacefully were ignored, so a left leaning socialist group conducted a civil disobedient raid to remove the Confederate flag—which was a kin to the first version of the Confederate Naval Jack.

Many in the public do not realize that the popular Confederate flag is not the official flag of the Confederacy.  The popular Confederate flag is the de facto flag of the Confederacy and is usually associated with official battle flag of the Confederacy.  But this flag mostly closely resembles the second Naval Jack of the Confederacy. 

In 1984 Ritchie Bradly dressed in Northern Civil War attire and proceeded to take down the Confederate flag at the San Francisco State House.  You can see him standing in front of a reproduction of the  'Union Fort Sumter' flag of South Carolina, where the official start of the US Civil War began.

Richard Bradly was a part of a left-wing socialist organization.  His demonstration of active civil disobedience took place with supporters who wished to see the Confederate flag removed from the San Francisco public property and promote a worker's socialist agenda.  One banner reads: 'DOWN WITH THE CONFEDERATE FLAG OF SLAVERY & THE KKK!  LABOR BLACK LEAGUE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE!  Another banner reads: 'FINISH THE CIVIL WAR!  ONWARD TO A WORKERS STATE!'


You can see the flag being torn down by Dick Bradly.  He was later released and the drama continued with a new flag, and several others until it was finally replaced.  The Confederate flag was one of many that represented the heritage of California.

Although the Confederacy never saw any military action or gained traction in California, other nation states were able to make an impact on California that would have made a better replacement like the Russian-American Company due to the colony at Ft. Ross; or the Argentina flag when Hippolyte Bochard occupied Monterey in 1818.  There was also the early US occupation of California in 1842 when Catesby Jones seized Monterey, when the US only had 26 states.


#7. Neḥushtan at Sea: What is Fouling that Anchor?—Bard Cosman

Bard Cosman gave a fascinating paper on the icon of the fouled anchor.  He ascribed it to Biblical origins.  A popular design for flags and in heraldry is a snake on an anchor. Cosman described its connections and symbolism, that can swing between being a rope and being a snake.

Cosman showed us several examples of the snake on the cross or staff, which was known as the Brazen serpent or nehushtan. Although snakes and serpents are associated with evil it is quite ironic that this symbol has also become a symbol of good, almost like a Yin and Yang.

 Below Cosman showed us an illustration of the Anchor and it use as printer's marks as the 'Sacred Anchor' of Christ.

NAVA 54: Presenting NAVA 55:Next Year's Meeting at St. Augustine, again, by Amber Atteberry


Like all NAVA meetings, a presentation for the next NAVA meeting was given.  Amber Atteberry gave an overview of the facility at appropriately named Flagler College.  There is a planned visit to the oldest masonry fort in the United States: the Castle of St. Mark (Castillo de San Marcos).

Flagler college is supreme college of elegance. 


#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 

#5. The Unwaved Flag in Churches—Benjamin Nickodemus


Benjamin Nickodemus gave a paper on an observation a European immigrant to the United States who experienced culture shock in many of the US Churches he visited.  The shocking element was the placement of the US flag near the holy of holy altars.  Not all churches in the US have flags in the church, but many set it on one of the flanking sides.  Although the US may pride herself on separation of the state and church, many churches are actively pro-inclusive to include symbols of the state in their church.

Nickodemus pointed out that many churches also fly the church flag along side the US flag, which is a white field with a blue canton and red cross.  However, Catholic Churches do not fly the 'protestant' Christian flag, instead they sometimes fly the Vatican flag, which is usually nowhere near the holy of holy altars.

Although the US promotes the separation of Church and State it may seem peculiar to some, that highest symbol of the state would be in a Church.  On the other hand, the use of Christian imagery within the state is ever so present.  Many legislative leaders are sworn in upon the Bible, likewise Christmas is a recognized Federal holiday.  Also note, US federal government does not recognize any Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Shinto or Native American Religious Holiday—only Christian Holidays.  

#4. The American Thin Blue Line Flag: A Controversial Success Story—Scott Mainwaring

The fourth NAVA 54 presentation was given by Scott Mainwaring.  Mainwaring gave the award winning William Driver presentation of NAVA 54 on the topic of the American Thin Blue Line flag.  The known history and over all impact of this flag was providentially timed, due to the current cultural crisis facing America and the Western World, with the issues of police brutality and racial injustice.

Much of the popularity of the Thin Blue Line US Flag can be traced to the efforts of Andrew Jacob.  Jacob created the flag in 2014 and had the marketing know how, to push it to market as a freshman at the University of Michigan.  The original design may have come from a flag patch that was inspired by the US or UK flag patch.

 Another point of inspiration for the Thin Blue Line American flag is its derivation from the original black and blue police flag.  The horizontal tribar of black, blue, and black honors officers that have fallen in the line of duty. Likewise the black and blue flag is the older thin blue line flag that represents all persons in law enforcement, irrespective of nationality.


Mainwaring also showed us that the thin blue line flag was replicated across national borders. To the left, versions of The Thin Blue Line flag for the UK, Canada, are Philippines visible.  


Tje video below was also presented online.  Scott pointed out this is one of the few unofficial flags to have quasi-official backing from the police department.


Dr. Mainwaring's Website
http://scottmainwaring.com


US Library of Congress Librarian - Elizabeth Brown

The computer app that hosted NAVA 54 was generously provided by Library of US Congress librarian Elizabeth Brown.  Brown used the Cisco webex to host NAVA 54.  Brown also gave us a lesson on using the Library of Congress's online features for research.  Note that you don't have to be member of Congress of access the library's vast reservoir of books, images, and other media.

Brown demonstrated how to search the Library of Congress website.  The example she provided was about You're a Grand Old Flag 1906 by George M. Cohan.  It originally was called You're a Grand Old Rag.  However due to peer pressure for reverence of the US flag, Rag was replaced with Flag.


#3. Surprise visit to Dublin: a virtual tour of a flag conservator’s studio—Rachel Phelan

The third scheduled presentation was a virtual tour of Rachel Phelan's conservator's studio in Dublin, Ireland.  Much of her presentation centered on recent Irish immigrants to the United States who participated in the US Civil War.  The Irish participated on both sides of the conflict, but the majority fought for the North.  Many of the Irish-American units had green banners that used popular Irish icons to indicate their Irish heritage.

Phelan gave us a short tour of the conservation studio where historical flags and other items were being restored.  To the left, you can see a Civil War flag presented to the Irish Brigade inducted in New York during the month of November 1862.  Notice the Irish harp, sunburst, and shamrocks.

It reads: Presented by Citizens of New York in the 69th NYV (4th Regiment of the Irish Brigade)   Brigadier Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher. Commanding.  Below in cursive it reads: In grateful appreciation of their gallant and brilliant conduct on the Battle Fields of Virginia Maryland in the War to maintain National Domain and American Union. 

#2. Advancing Vexillogical Philately—Edwin Jackson

Edwin Jackson gave a rich presentation on flags that have appeared on stamps across the world.   Interesting to note is the first adhesive postage stamp to be created was in 1840, and is known as the black penny.  This official government postage sticker was created on May 1, 1840.  It featured the profile of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.  In essence it is one of the most valuable stickers that anyone can hope to add to their sticker collection.


5¢ CSA Stamp
 Edwin Jackson provided a spectacular array of historical stamps and contemporary postal cards used during the US Civil War.  One Confederate Post Card had the a motto "DON'T TREAD ON US"  with a red snake tied up on two early versions of the Confederate Flag.  Underneath it also reads "EVER READY WITH OUR LIVES AND FORTUNES" which is just above the Georgia State Seal in blue.  The lower post card features the second version of the Confederate Flag with what could have become the Confederate Pledge of Allegiance:
  With our front in the field, swearing never to yield
 The rights that we demand, or the deeds that we dare; 
Then the Cross of the South in triumph remain,
To light is to freedom and glory again.

 The Confederacy was able to create stamps of its own.  You can see a cancelled 5¢ 'CONFEDERATE STATES" stamp that features Jefferson Davis.  It was cancelled on November 4, 1862 in South Carolina. 

 Jackson showed us a stamp from El Salvador that matched with the pattern of the US flag but with inverted colours. 

It really is too bad that El Salvador did not keep its original design flag from 1865.  It would make it unique among her neighboring flags of Honduras and Nicaragua, which looks way too similar. 

 Jackson showed to us the first stamp to ever feature a flag.  It was with Costa Rica with the Porte ½ Real in 1863.  However it is nearly impossible to make out the flags.

Finally, the first US stamp to feature a flag from the USA was make in 1869 with US stamp # 121.  Although it was not colour prefect, it was for 30¢.  This was when the Union had 37 states, when Nebraska was the Baby in 1867.  The 38th state would be Colorado which was still a territory.