A silk handkerchief illustrating maritime ensigns

A colourful cotton handkerchief illustrating 175 ensigns of countries, cities, navies, companies, monarchs and diplomats. Despite being made in England it seems to be produced for the American market, as the largest flag is of the United States (26 stars, used 1837-45), taking prime position at the centre, with smaller flags of the British Royal Standard, France, Russia and Spain in the corners, Among the commercial ensigns are The East India Company, Danish East India Company, Russian American Company and the Spanish Philippine Company. Among the personal ensigns are those of the American President, Capitan Pasha, the Persian Shah, King of Spain and the Grand Vizier. Other unsual flags are those of the Republic of Texas, the Scottish Lighthouse Board, the Papal Interregnum and 'Danish Greenlander'. Another flag of particular interest is marked 'New Zealand 1831'; this is the 'Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand', pre-dating the Treaty of Waitangi by nearly a decade. This was adopted by the Maori to comply with British navigation laws that decreed that every ship needed to sail under a flag. After the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 the Union Jack was adopted, although the United Tribes' flag is still flown on the flag pole at Waitangi.