Lot 285

WWII Era Spanish Merchant Ship Ensign Textile Flag

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WWII Era Spanish Merchant Ship Ensign Textile Flag

Estimate: $350 - $525

Starting Bid: $125

(0 Bids)

by Artemis Fine Arts
July 14, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Western Europe, ca. 1939 CE. A loosely woven cotton or burlap textile flag made in the style of a Spanish merchant marine ensign, constructed from separate red, white, and yellow sections and featuring a black galleon motif at the center. The hoist cloth bears markings including an "A" inside a circle, the year "1939," and the number "510." The design reflects variants used by Spanish merchant vessels, with colors arranged in a pattern distinct from naval war ensigns and associated with commercial maritime activity. Such flags may have been carried for ceremonial display or identification in merchant trade, including routes connected with Cuba, or possibly employed during World War II as neutral identification to suggest a Spanish vessel at sea. Size: 69.5" L x 49" W (176.5 cm x 124.5 cm)

Provenance: ex-private collection, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, USA; ex-collection of the late Malcolm Smith, the long-time assistant secretary to the Battle of Britain Association

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Item # 199173

  • Condition: Tears, fraying, and perforations with losses to fibers as shown. Stable condition and could easily be mounted for display. Discoloration and stains.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000