“100 IMPORTANT ITEMS” - Kunstantikvariat Pama AS

43. JEAN MONDHARE
“Tableau de tous les Pavillons que lon arbore sur les Vaisseaux Dans les Quatre Parties du Monde Ou se trouve le pavillon de France Décréte par
l’ Assemblée Nationale le 24 octobre 1790”
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 59,5x87cm
PARIS 1791
A RARE PRINT OF THE SEA FLAGS OF ALL NATIONS, WITH ALL THE FLAGS IN ORIGINAL COLOUR.
Also known as “The Mondhare Flag Sheet”. Shows pictures of all the flags that were used by the fleet all over the world including the French flag
which was decreed by the Admirality, and the National Assembly on October 24, 1790. The print is of great historic interest because of its subject
and the day it was published. The 24th of October 1790, the very first day in history that “le drapeau tricolor francais” (red, blue and white) was
introduced. The National Assembly created a national flag which from now on replaced all the flags which had been blue and white of the merchant
fleet and white of the war ships. It is the first time in history that a country has a flag which is used as a common national symbol by all the citizens.
Historic battle scenes are shown on the top of the print. They show the French Navy at the time of the American War of Independence. We can see
the construction of ships and the development of the French artillery in the 18th century which was in full expansion. The 12 frégates are good
examples of an effort since 104 constructions were built between 1748 and 1798. The battle of 17th June 1778 with the famous ship “Belle-Poule”
is shown in the panel upper right. This is for the first time in a naval battle which ended by a great victory for France and was the beginning of the
engagement of France in the war of independence for the Americans. The pictures for the naval flags also prove the importance of sending signals
by using flags at this time. The two lower ship illustrations have detailed key numbers to explain the wealth of detailes on them. In the middle a
large, circular wind-card.
The print is in very good condition and with fresh colours. The paper has a slight age tone.
65 000,-
(€7550)
44
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