State Service Flag for Opinions

[avenger]

IN HAND PHOTOS: ---------------------------------------------

























ORIGINAL POST: ----------------------------------------------

Hello folks,

I wanted to see if I could get some opinions on this state service flag? It's KM stamped. One thing that caught my eye is the black on the eagle outline has some white edging that may just be a printing quirk, or a sign it's a reproduction? Didn't see it on any examples I compared it to, but some of those photos weren't great.

The seller wants $560 for it, and I'm not sure if that's about right nor not for a KM stamped version. Dealers want about that for regular versions it seems.

Thanks in advance!

Scott

[harryamb2]

all I can say is it looks correct.

[Wagriff]

Looks unflown or unissued. Nice to see the Navy markings. An attractive flag and not all that commonly seen.

[avenger]

Made a deal with the seller on this. SO excited about this flag. I quite like these.

I do have a question about why they would have flown a state service flag on a KM vessel. What kind of ship would these fly on? I would expect the battle flag to fly on KM ships, unless maybe it's a transport vessel, hospital, or cargo ship perhaps?

[TrondK]

it was a more of a merchant fleet flag i believe.

Please correct me someone if im wrong


The Altmark in Jossingfiord 16feb 1940

[TrondK]

I remember i saw one like this many years ago, it was very big- but after the war someone needed red cloth and had cut the flag in two pieces.

[wizardman]

The flag looks correct and unissued, has anyone seen the 'M' STAMP overlayed onto the red before

[avenger]

TrondK, that makes a lot of sense for how it would have been used. Thanks for the photos too!

On the KM stamp, I couldn't say... but maybe some of the others might take another look at it. Nobody has said anything about it until this moment.... The seller tells me that the flag was taken at the Danish Navy station Holmen after the liberation in Denmark (where he is also located).
I'm told Holmen was used by the Kriegsmarine during the war.

[Wagriff]

Flag companies were not usually too fastidious about how they stamped flags, and neither was, apparently, the Navy. The slightly off center M is fine.

[avenger]

Updated photos are posted in the original thread. This flag is one tiny hole away from being flawless. To the right of the maker stamp there is a little light colored "0" looking stamp and next to it written the number "9", which is shown in one of my photos. Anyone know what all that signifies?

I don't want to say anything else about the flag, the photos will do the rest on this one.