Flag Record

Flag categories

Flags grouped by what they represent and how they are used. Geography remains a separate field inside each record.

National flags

Current flags representing sovereign states. These records emphasize legal status, official proportions, construction schedules, and government color guidance.

FlagRecordCategoryProportionsReference
Albania’s red rectangular flag with a central black double-headed eagle, spread wings and a seven-feathered tailAlbaniaAL-NAT-2002National5:7 (hoist:fly)View record →
Algeria’s equal green hoist and white fly panels with a red crescent opening toward the fly and a red five-pointed star pointing rightAlgeriaDZ-NAT-1963National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Antigua and Barbuda’s red flag with an inverted triangle containing black, blue and white bands and a golden rising sun with seven full raysAntigua and BarbudaAG-NAT-1967National2:3 — reference proportionView record →
Argentina’s flag with equal sky-blue, white, and sky-blue horizontal bands and a golden sun with a face and 32 alternating rays at the centerArgentinaAR-NAT-1818National5:8 / standardized proportionsView record →
Armenia’s rectangular flag with three equal horizontal bands: red at the top, blue in the middle and orange at the bottomArmeniaAM-NAT-1990National1:2 (hoist : fly)View record →
Flag of AustraliaAustraliaAU-NAT-1901National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of AustriaAustriaAT-NAT-1945National2:3 common display form; plain-flag ratio not fixed by the cited actsView record →
Azerbaijan’s equal blue, red and green horizontal bands with a white crescent opening toward a white eight-pointed star in the red bandAzerbaijanAZ-NAT-1991National1:2View record →
Bahrain’s red flag with a white hoist band extending into five evenly spaced triangular points toward the flyBahrainBH-NAT-2002National3:5 (hoist:fly)View record →
Bangladesh’s green flag with a red disc offset toward the hoistBangladeshBD-NAT-1972National3:5 (hoist : fly)View record →
Barbados’s equal ultramarine, gold and ultramarine vertical panels with an upright black broken trident centered on the gold panelBarbadosBB-NAT-1966National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Flag of BelgiumBelgiumBE-NAT-1831National13:15 (traditional; proportions vary in everyday use)View record →
Belize’s blue flag with red top and bottom bands and a white disc containing two men beside a shield, a mahogany tree, a leafy wreath and the motto Sub Umbra FloreoBelizeBZ-NAT-1981National3:5 (hoist:fly; modern form represented by this record); older 2:3 renderings are documented historical or variant specimens.View record →
Bhutan’s yellow upper-hoist and orange lower-fly triangles with a white dragon holding four jewels and facing the flyBhutanBT-NAT-1972National2:3 (hoist:fly; statutory)View record →
Bolivia’s plain flag with three equal horizontal bands of red at the top, yellow in the middle and green at the bottom, without a coat of armsBoliviaBO-NAT-1851NationalHoist:fly 15:22 under Supreme Decree 241, article 8, as used for this specimen; 2:3 for the institutional dimensions in article 9(III). The provisions differ; no verified correction resolving their relationship was located.View record →
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s blue flag with a yellow right triangle toward the fly and a diagonal row of seven complete white five-pointed stars plus two clipped at the top and bottomBosnia and HerzegovinaBA-NAT-1998National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Botswana’s light-blue flag with a central black horizontal band bordered above and below by narrow white stripesBotswanaBW-NAT-1966National2:3 (reference construction)View record →
Flag of BrazilBrazilBR-NAT-1992National7:10 (hoist:fly)View record →
Bulgaria’s rectangular flag with three equal horizontal bands of white at the top, green in the middle, and red at the bottomBulgariaBG-NAT-1990National3:5 standardView record →
Cambodia’s horizontal blue, red and blue bands, the red twice as tall as either blue band, with a white three-towered Angkor Wat temple outlined in blackCambodiaKH-NAT-1993National2:3 hoist-to-fly under embassy protocol guidance, reviewed through FOTW’s attributed transcription; not measurements transcribed from the constitutional annex.View record →
Cameroon’s equal green, red and yellow vertical bands with an upright gold-yellow five-pointed star centered in the red bandCameroonCM-NAT-1975National2:3 / reference; decree reportedView record →
Flag of CanadaCanadaCA-NAT-1965National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Chile’s flag with equal white and red horizontal bands, a blue square at the upper hoist, and one centered white five-pointed starChileCL-NAT-1817National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
China’s red national flag with one large yellow five-pointed star near the upper hoist and four smaller yellow stars pointing toward itChinaCN-NAT-1949National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Colombia’s plain national flag with yellow across the upper half, blue across the middle quarter, and red across the lower quarterColombiaCO-NAT-1861National2:3 hoist:fly — reference format; band heights 2:1:1View record →
Costa Rica’s five horizontal blue, white, red, white and blue bands, with the central red band twice the height of each other band and no coat of armsCosta RicaCR-NAT-1848National3:5 (hoist:fly; statutory)View record →
Croatia’s equal red, white and blue horizontal bands with a central red-and-white checkered shield crowned by five smaller shieldsCroatiaHR-NAT-1990National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Cuba’s five equal horizontal stripes of blue, white, blue, white and blue, with a red equilateral triangle at the hoist containing one centered upright white five-pointed starCubaCU-NAT-1869National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Cyprus’s white rectangular flag with a copper-colored silhouette of the island above two crossed olive-green branchesCyprusCY-NAT-2006National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Flag of CzechiaCzechiaCZ-NAT-1993National2:3 (height:length)View record →
Flag of DenmarkDenmarkDK-NAT-1854National28:37 — rectangular stutflagView record →
Dominican Republic flag with blue at upper hoist and lower fly, red in the other quarters, a white cross and central national arms with a Bible, cross, flags, laurel and palmDominican RepublicDO-NAT-1844National2:3 reference / statutory sizes differ slightlyView record →
Ecuador’s yellow upper half and blue and red lower quarters, with central national arms showing a condor above an oval shield with a sun, mountain, river and steamshipEcuadorEC-NAT-1900National2:3 / November 2009 guidanceView record →
Egypt’s red, white, and black horizontal triband with a golden eagle facing the hoist in the white bandEgyptEG-NAT-1984National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
El Salvador’s equal blue, white and blue horizontal bands with national arms: a gold triangle, five volcanoes, liberty cap, rainbow, five flags and laurel branchesEl SalvadorSV-NAT-1912National189:335 hoist:fly — magna form statutory dimensions; other official forms have their own proportionsView record →
Flag of EstoniaEstoniaEE-NAT-1918National7:11 (hoist:fly)View record →
Ethiopia’s equal green, yellow and red horizontal bands with a centered blue disc bearing a yellow interlaced five-pointed star and five raysEthiopiaET-NAT-2009National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Fiji’s light-blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter and a shield bearing a gold lion, red cross, sugarcane, coconut palm, dove and bananas in the flyFijiFJ-NAT-1970National1:2 — reference proportionsView record →
Flag of FinlandFinlandFI-NAT-1918National11:18 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of FranceFranceFR-NAT-1794NationalCommon civil representation: 2:3; ratio varies by useView record →
Georgia’s white rectangular flag with a large red cross reaching all four edges and a smaller red cross with curved arms in each quarterGeorgiaGE-NAT-2004National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of GermanyGermanyDE-NAT-1949National3:5 (height to length; three equal horizontal bands)View record →
Ghana’s flag with equal red, gold, and green horizontal bands and an upright black five-pointed star spanning the gold bandGhanaGH-NAT-1966National2:3 (vexillological reference)View record →
Flag of GreeceGreeceGR-NAT-1978National2:3 (height:width)View record →
Grenada’s red-bordered flag with six gold border stars, gold upper and lower triangles, green side triangles, a red-and-gold nutmeg at the hoist, and a central gold star on a red discGrenadaGD-NAT-1974National3:5 on land; government guidance gives 1:2 at sea. The displayed land specimen is not a verified sea construction.View record →
Guatemala’s equal blue, white and blue vertical bands with a central quetzal, inscribed parchment, crossed rifles and swords, and laurel branchesGuatemalaGT-NAT-1871National5:8 (hoist:fly)View record →
Guyana’s green flag with a white-bordered gold triangle pointing to the fly and a black-bordered red triangle at the hoistGuyanaGY-NAT-1966National3:5 on land; 1:2 at seaView record →
Haiti’s blue-over-red flag with a centered white square containing a palm, liberty cap, flags, cannons and a ribbon reading L’Union fait la ForceHaitiHT-NAT-1986National3:5 reference; not stated in Article 3View record →
Honduras’s equal turquoise-blue, white and turquoise-blue horizontal bands, with five blue five-pointed stars arranged as four corners of a rectangle and one at its centerHondurasHN-NAT-1866National1:2 (hoist : fly)View record →
Hungary’s flag with three equal horizontal bands of red above white above green, without an emblemHungaryHU-NAT-1957National1:2 hoist to fly for public-building display; no overall ratio specified in the ConstitutionView record →
Flag of IcelandIcelandIS-NAT-1944National18:25 (hoist:fly; rectangular general national form)View record →
Flag of IndiaIndiaIN-NAT-1947National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of IndonesiaIndonesiaID-NAT-1945National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of IrelandIrelandIE-NAT-1937National1:2 (height:length)View record →
Flag of ItalyItalyIT-NAT-1946National2:3 (common national presentation)View record →
Jamaica’s flag with a gold diagonal cross, green top and bottom triangles, and black side trianglesJamaicaJM-NAT-1962National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of JapanJapanJP-NAT-1999National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Jordan’s black, white, and green horizontal flag with a red hoist triangle containing a small white seven-pointed star, one point upwardJordanJO-NAT-1928National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Kazakhstan’s blue flag with a golden 32-rayed sun above a soaring eagle and a vertical golden ornament beside the hoistKazakhstanKZ-NAT-1992National1:2 (hoist : fly, statutory)View record →
Flag of KenyaKenyaKE-NAT-1963National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Laos’s red, dark blue and red horizontal bands, with a double-height blue band and a centered white circular discLaosLA-NAT-1975National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Flag of LatviaLatviaLV-NAT-1921National1:2 (height:width)View record →
Lebanon’s red, white and red horizontal bands, with a double-height white band and a green cedar reaching its upper and lower edgesLebanonLB-NAT-1943National2:3 customary (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of LithuaniaLithuaniaLT-NAT-2004National3:5 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of LuxembourgLuxembourgLU-NAT-1972National3:5 or 1:2 (hoist:fly; both legally permitted)View record →
Madagascar’s flag with a white vertical rectangle at the hoist and equal red upper and green lower rectangles at the flyMadagascarMG-NAT-1958National2:3 (reference construction)View record →
Malaysia’s fourteen alternating red and white horizontal stripes with a yellow crescent opening toward a yellow fourteen-point star in a dark-blue upper-hoist cantonMalaysiaMY-NAT-1963National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
The Maldives’ red-bordered flag with a green rectangle and white crescent opening toward the flyMaldivesMV-NAT-1965National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Malta’s equal white hoist and red fly halves, with a red-edged grey George Cross in the upper corner of the white halfMaltaMT-NAT-1964National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Mauritius’s rectangular flag with four equal horizontal bands: red at the top, then blue, yellow and greenMauritiusMU-NAT-1968National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of MexicoMexicoMX-NAT-1968National4:7 (hoist:fly)View record →
Moldova’s equal blue, yellow and red vertical bands with an eagle holding a cross, olive branch and sceptre, bearing a red and blue shield with a golden aurochs head, star, rose and crescentMoldovaMD-NAT-1990National1:2 (hoist : fly)View record →
Mongolia’s three equal vertical red, blue, and red bands with a golden Soyombo in the hoist bandMongoliaMN-NAT-1992National1:2 (hoist:fly; constitutional)View record →
Montenegro’s red flag with an integral gold border and central crowned gold double-headed eagle holding a sceptre and blue orb, with a gold lion on its blue and green breast shieldMontenegroME-NAT-2004National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Morocco’s red national flag with an open green five-pointed star centered on the field, one point upwardMoroccoMA-NAT-1915National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Namibia’s blue upper-hoist triangle with a gold twelve-rayed sun, a white-edged red diagonal rising to the upper fly, and a green lower-fly triangleNamibiaNA-NAT-1990National2:3 (hoist:fly; constitutional specification)View record →
Flag of NepalNepalNP-NAT-1962NationalDouble pennant defined by geometric construction; approximate hoist:fly 1.219:1, as listed in the imported record. This rounded ratio does not replace the constitutional construction.View record →
Flag of the NetherlandsNetherlandsNL-NAT-1937National2:3 (hoist:fly; Defence specification)View record →
New Zealand flag: a blue field with the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter and four white-bordered red five-pointed stars forming the Southern Cross on the flyNew ZealandNZ-NAT-1902National1:2 (hoist : fly)View record →
Nicaragua’s equal cobalt-blue, white and cobalt-blue horizontal bands with gold-lettered national arms: a triangle enclosing five volcanoes, two seas, a rainbow and a radiant red liberty capNicaraguaNI-NAT-1908National3:5 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of NigeriaNigeriaNG-NAT-1960National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
North Macedonia’s red rectangular flag with a centered golden-yellow sun, a red gap around its disc, and eight widening yellow rays reaching the edgesNorth MacedoniaMK-NAT-1995National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of NorwayNorwayNO-NAT-1821National16:22 (hoist:fly; national and merchant form shown)View record →
Oman’s flag with white, red and green horizontal bands beside a red hoist panel bearing a white sheathed khanjar, belt and crossed swordsOmanOM-NAT-2004National1:2 shown; varies by display sizeView record →
Pakistan’s dark-green flag with a white hoist band, tilted white crescent, and five-pointed white starPakistanPK-NAT-1947National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Panama’s quartered flag: white with a blue star at the upper hoist, red at the upper fly, blue at the lower hoist, and white with a red star at the lower flyPanamaPA-NAT-1925National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Papua New Guinea’s flag divided from upper hoist to lower fly, with a yellow bird of paradise on red above and five white Southern Cross stars on black belowPapua New GuineaPG-NAT-1971National3:4 (hoist:fly)View record →
Front of Paraguay’s flag: equal red, white and blue horizontal bands, with a yellow star between green palm and olive branches and the black inscription República del Paraguay in a central circular emblemParaguayPY-NAT-2013NationalApproximately 11:20 / decree targetView record →
Peru’s plain national flag with three equal vertical bands, red at each side and white in the center, without an emblemPeruPE-NAT-1950National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Philippine flag with blue above red and a white equilateral hoist triangle containing a golden-yellow eight-rayed sun and three five-pointed starsPhilippinesPH-NAT-1998National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of PolandPolandPL-NAT-1919National5:8 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of PortugalPortugalPT-NAT-1911National2:3 (height:length)View record →
Qatar’s maroon flag with a white hoist band extending into nine evenly spaced triangular points toward the flyQatarQA-NAT-1960National11:28 outdoors; 1:2 indoors (within Qatar)View record →
Flag of RomaniaRomaniaRO-NAT-1991National2:3 (height:length)View record →
Rwanda’s blue upper half above yellow and green horizontal quarters, with a golden twenty-four-rayed sun and blue ring around its disc in the upper flyRwandaRW-NAT-2001National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Saint Lucia’s blue flag with a tall white-edged black triangle and a gold triangle sharing its base, evoking the PitonsSaint LuciaLC-NAT-2002National1:2View record →
Samoa’s red flag with a blue upper hoist quarter containing five upright white five-pointed stars arranged as the Southern CrossSamoaWS-NAT-1949National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Saudi Arabia’s green flag with the white Arabic Shahada above a horizontal white sword, its point to the left and hilt to the rightSaudi ArabiaSA-NAT-1973National2:3View record →
Senegal’s equal green, gold-yellow and red vertical bands with an upright green five-pointed star centered in the gold bandSenegalSN-NAT-1960National2:3 customary / referenceView record →
Serbia’s equal red, blue and white horizontal bands with crowned arms toward the hoist: a white double-headed eagle, two golden fleurs-de-lis, and a red breast shield bearing a white cross and four firesteelsSerbiaRS-NAT-2010National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Seychelles’ blue, yellow, red, white and green bands radiating from the lower hoist, with red spanning the upper fly cornerSeychellesSC-NAT-1996National1:2 (hoist : fly)View record →
Singapore’s red over white flag with a white crescent opening toward five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle in the upper hoistSingaporeSG-NAT-1959National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Slovakia’s equal white, blue and red horizontal bands with a white-edged red shield toward the hoist, bearing a white double cross on three blue hillsSlovakiaSK-NAT-1992National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Slovenia’s equal white, blue and red horizontal bands with a red-edged blue shield toward the hoist, showing white Mount Triglav, two blue waves and three golden six-pointed starsSloveniaSI-NAT-1991National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of South AfricaSouth AfricaZA-NAT-1994National2:3 (height:length)View record →
South Korea’s white flag with a central red-and-blue taegeuk and four black trigrams: heaven at upper hoist, water at upper fly, fire at lower hoist, and earth at lower flySouth KoreaKR-NAT-1949NationalHoist : fly 2:3View record →
Flag of SpainSpainES-NAT-1981National2:3 (height:length) for the described normal flagView record →
Sri Lanka’s yellow-bordered flag with green and saffron hoist stripes, a yellow sword-bearing lion on maroon, and four yellow bo leavesSri LankaLK-NAT-1972National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Suriname’s green, white, red, white and green horizontal bands with one upright yellow five-pointed star in the broad red bandSurinameSR-NAT-1975National2:3View record →
Flag of SwedenSwedenSE-NAT-1906National10:16 (rectangular national form)View record →
Flag of SwitzerlandSwitzerlandCH-NAT-1889National1:1 (square national flag)View record →
Tanzania’s green upper-hoist and blue lower-fly triangles separated by a black diagonal band with narrow yellow borders, rising from lower hoist to upper flyTanzaniaTZ-NAT-1964National2:3 (reference specification)View record →
Thailand’s five horizontal red, white, dark blue, white, and red bands, with the blue band twice the height of each other bandThailandTH-NAT-1917National2:3 (6:9 in the Act)View record →
The Bahamas’ equal aquamarine, gold and aquamarine horizontal bands with a black equilateral triangle spanning the hoist and pointing toward the flyThe BahamasBS-NAT-1973National1:2 — reference proportionView record →
Tonga’s red flag with a white rectangle at the upper hoist containing a centered red equal-armed crossTongaTO-NAT-1875National1:2 reference proportion (hoist:fly)View record →
Trinidad and Tobago’s red flag with a black diagonal band edged in white running from the upper hoist to the lower flyTrinidad and TobagoTT-NAT-1962National3:5 on land; 1:2 at seaView record →
Tunisia’s red flag with a centered white disc containing a red crescent opening toward the fly and a red five-pointed star with one point toward the hoistTunisiaTN-NAT-1999National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Turkey’s red flag with a white crescent opening toward the fly and a white five-pointed starTurkeyTR-NAT-1983National2:3; sleeve treatment discussed in construction notesView record →
Uganda’s six equal black, yellow, red, black, yellow and red horizontal bands with a central white disc bearing a grey crowned crane facing the hoist with one leg raisedUgandaUG-NAT-1962National2:3 (reference proportions)View record →
Flag of UkraineUkraineUA-NAT-1992National2:3 (height:width)View record →
United Arab Emirates flag with a full-height red band at the left hoist and equal green, white, and black horizontal bands to its rightUnited Arab EmiratesAE-NAT-1971National1:2 (hoist : fly)View record →
Flag of the United KingdomUnited KingdomGB-NAT-1801National3:5 approved land form; 1:2 approved sea form; the 1801 proclamation prescribes no single ratioView record →
United States flag with thirteen red and white stripes and fifty white stars in alternating rows of six and five on a blue cantonUnited StatesUS-NAT-1960National10:19 standard construction; authorized exceptionsView record →
Uruguay’s flag with nine equal horizontal stripes alternating white and blue, and a golden sun with a face and sixteen alternating straight and wavy rays in a white square at the upper hoistUruguayUY-NAT-1830National2:3 (hoist : fly)View record →
Uzbekistan’s blue, white, and green horizontal flag with narrow red separators and a white crescent and twelve stars in three rows at the upper hoistUzbekistanUZ-NAT-1991National1:2 (hoist:fly)View record →
Vanuatu’s red upper and green lower fields divided by a black-edged yellow Y, with a yellow boar’s tusk enclosing crossed namele leaves in the black hoist triangleVanuatuVU-NAT-1980National3:5 specimen; competing documented proportions remain unresolved. Flags of the World reports 19:36 and an older 11:18 reference; the Commons reconstruction author interprets the legal schedule as approximately 2:3. No authoritative ratio is established here.View record →
Venezuela’s equal yellow, blue and red horizontal bands, with eight white five-pointed stars forming an upward arch in the blue bandVenezuelaVE-NAT-2006National2:3 / reference format (hoist:fly), not a statutory ratioView record →
Vietnam’s red rectangular national flag with a centered yellow five-pointed star, one point upwardVietnamVN-NAT-1976National2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Zambia’s green flag with an orange African fish eagle above red, black and orange vertical stripes at the lower flyZambiaZM-NAT-1996National2:3 hoist:fly, expressed as 3:2 fly:hoist in the cited statutory text. Detailed construction measurements are secondary transcriptions; the original government diagram was not directly inspected.View record →
Zimbabwe’s seven green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow and green stripes with a black-edged white hoist triangle containing a red star and gold Zimbabwe Bird facing the hoistZimbabweZW-NAT-1980National1:2 (reference construction)View record →

Civic & regional flags

Flags of cities, provinces, states, cantons, territories, and other subnational governments. These records show how heraldic devices and historical events become civic geometry.

FlagRecordCategoryProportionsReference
Flag of AmsterdamAmsterdamNL-AMS-CIV-1975Civic2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of the Canton of ZürichCanton of ZürichCH-ZH-REG-1315Civic1:1 (square)View record →
Flag of ChicagoChicagoUS-CHI-CIV-1917Civic2:3 customaryView record →
Flag of NagoyaNagoyaJP-NGO-CIV-1907Civic2:3 (displayed specimen)View record →
Flag of OsakaOsakaJP-OSA-CIV-1894Civic2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of PraguePragueCZ-PRG-CIV-2004Civic2:3 shown in the cited renderingView record →
Flag of RotterdamRotterdamNL-RTM-CIV-1949Civic2:3 (hoist:fly)View record →
Flag of St. LouisSt. LouisUS-STL-CIV-1964Civic5:8 in the reference renderingView record →
Flag of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.US-DC-CIV-1938CivicCommon ratio 1:2View record →

Maritime & signal flags

Ensigns identify authority or nationality at sea; signal flags communicate defined messages. Records in this family always separate identity from operational meaning.

FlagRecordCategoryProportionsReference
International Code of Signals flag AlphaSignal AlphaINT-ICS-AMaritimeSee recordView record →
International Code of Signals flag BravoSignal BravoINT-ICS-BMaritimeSee recordView record →
International Code of Signals flag CharlieSignal CharlieINT-ICS-CMaritimeSee recordView record →

Historical flags

Superseded designs with a precise period of use. Historical entries store both start and end dates so they cannot be mistaken for current flags.

FlagRecordCategoryProportionsReference
Reconstruction of the 15-star, 15-stripe United States flagUnited States, 15-starUS-HIST-15-1795HistoricalNot prescribedView record →
48-star flag of the United StatesUnited States, 48-starUS-HIST-48-1912Historical10:19 government standardView record →
49-star flag of the United StatesUnited States, 49-starUS-HIST-49-1959Historical10:19 government standard (hoist:fly)View record →

Reading category descriptions

Category descriptions provide an overview. Consult each individual record’s status, qualified period of use, proportions and citations before drawing conclusions about a particular flag. Read dates and ratios together with their qualifications; a category label alone does not establish current use or an official specification.

The historical introduction’s reference to precise start and end dates should not be read as a guarantee for every entry. Records describe the period of use in free text, rather than requiring separate start and end dates. Date precision depends on the available evidence: retain approximate dates, ranges and uncertainty wherever stated, and do not infer exact boundaries when they are undocumented.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I distinguish official specifications from customary manufacture?

Check the record’s citations and the scope of the cited evidence. Treat a proportion, construction detail or color requirement as official only where the record supports that attribution. A detail described as customary manufacture or common practice should retain that qualification; do not assume it is an official requirement or applies to every version.

Does the displayed artwork certify the flag’s construction and colors?

Do not treat displayed artwork as a certified manufacturing specification. Read its caption and provenance alongside the record’s citations. Screen approximations, rounded coordinates and unverified construction details retain those limitations even when other parts of the design have been checked. A screen color value alone does not establish a physical color standard.

Where should I check artwork provenance and specification limits?

Consult the individual record and Flag Asset Sources. Read credits, source history and licensing information separately from statements about specification accuracy. Attribution or permission to reuse artwork does not by itself establish that its geometry or colors have official approval.