The Flag of the United States by Milo Milton Quaife, First Edition, 1942

Quaife, Milo Milton. The Flag of the United States. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1942. First edition. Octavo. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt embossed titles to the spine. Illustrated. Presented with a matching archival slipcase. 

Presented is a first edition printing of The Flag of the United States by Milo Milton Quaife. The book was published in New York by Grosset & Dunlap in 1942. It is presented here rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt titles to the spine, and a matching archival slipcase. 

Quaife wrote The Flag of the United States in order to present “the true and authentic history of the United States.” Wading through the myths and stories surrounding the flag, he details the origins and evolution of the American flag, using careful research to determine fact from fiction. There are several chapters on the early flags of Spain, France, and Holland in America and Quaife traces the development of the American flag from its English predecessor. He articulates the twenty-nine word resolution of the Second Continental Congress that made the flag of the United States, then outlines the changes to the flag’s design made in 1795, 1818, and 1912. He has a chapter on Civil War flags, a chapter on flags of the Army, and several debunking the many myths surrounding the American flag.

This book was very well received upon its publication. “Quaife is entitled to a good deal of praise for having written a straightforward, and very readable, history of our flag” (Ralph W. Steen, Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 1943). “To read this history of our flag is to read the history of these United States, not only in the years when we became an infant nation, but also in those later years variously devoted to territorial expansion, extending our commerce, and fighting other wars.” (Ardelia Olden Koch, Wisconsin Magazine of History, 1943).

Milo Milton Quaife (1880–1959) was a historian and writer, born in Nashua, Iowa. He received his education at Grinnell College, the University of Missouri, and the University of Chicago. Quaife was a published historian of the Great Lakes region, the Mississippi River valley, the Gold Rush, and President Polk, among other topics. He was head of the Wisconsin Historical Society and secretary-editor of the Detroit Public Library's Burton Collection. He lectured at Wayne State University and the University of Detroit. He also served as editor of the Lakeside Classics historical series from 1916 to 1957.

CONDITION:

Good condition. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt embossed titles to the spine. Front cover is inlaid with the gilt embossed flag design from the original front boards. Interior pages are healthy, with only light toning. Illustrated throughout, with black and white and color illustrations. Presented with a matching archival slipcase. 

Book Dimensions: 8 3/8"H x 5 7/8"W x 1 1/2"D. Slipcase Dimensions: 8 3/4"H x 6 1/8"W x 1 7/8"D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.