F2721

House flag, Federal Steam Navigation Co. Ltd Long Caption: The house flag of the Federal Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, London. A rectangular white flag with a red cross overall and a blue rectangle in the centre placed over the cross. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is attached. This design was originally the famous house flag of Wigram & Green of Blackwall. A story, probably apocryphal, tells how, in 1824, one of Wigram & Green's ships was ordered to deface their St George's cross flag by the commanding officer at Portsmouth. To avoid confusion with the distinguishing flag of an Admiral of the White, a blue patch from an officer's coat was sewn over the centre. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Pope Collection. Reproduced with kind permission of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Object: AAA0228 Artist: unknown Date: 1955-1967 Medium: wool; synthetic blend; cotton; machine sewn Size: 1143 mm x 1752 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.