Paraguayan national flag: version of 1842~1954 (original) (raw)

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About the flag

According to [alv86], the 1812 flag became a model for the first codified flag of the Paraguayan Republic introduced by the General Congress on November 25, 1842, which paid tribute officially to the ideals of the French Revolution.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 15 May 2002

The image in [gmc17] (page 369; flag #501, as «Paraguay Ensign») matches very well the ratio for the period, 333:500.
Željko Heimer, 06 Oct 2002

Shown in the Flaggenbuch [neu92] as «National Flag, Naval and Merchant Ensign, Diplomatic Offices’ Flag».
Željko Heimer, 28 Oct 2002

Merchant Ensign as of 1917

image by Željko Heimer, 29 Oct 2002

Shown in [gmc17], as image #504 «Merchant Ensign»: similar to the contemporary ensign, but with the emblem off-set much to the hoist. The look of the emblem is similar to the treasury seal, but in the text it is described as «the seal of the department having to do with merchant marine matters». What would be the department, and what would the seal look like? There is no mention of different obverse here. Do we have any other source describing such merchant ensign? If there was indeed such, it must have been abandoned until WWII, _Flaggenbuch_[neu92] does not mention it any more.
Željko Heimer, 06 Oct 2002

Flag with tree on 1842 plate

image by Jaume Ollé, 15 Mar 2001

Laurie’s flag chart, of 1842, [Lri42] shows red,white and blue horizontal 3 stripes (1:1:1) with emblem of twisted tree with green leaves and brown trunks in the center of white stripe. Similar image in 1848 Norris and Hobb’s chart _Maritime Flags of All Nations_[noh48], in 1862 German _Flaggen Atlas_by Brommes [bmm62], and 1897 British flag chart The flags of All Nations [fan97] (Incidentally the latter’s chart sister version of _The Arms of All Nations_published by same company does not show arms of Paraguay; I assume they are not sure the tree emblem is an official coat of arms). I know Paraguay star/wreath emblem was already adopted in 1842 but the twisted tree is so different in shape from star/wreath.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 Jan 2001, 22 Jan 2001 and 15 Mar 2001

Maybe someone had misunderstood the words «a palm and an olive twined to one crown…» to draw two trees instead of branches. In some languages the head of a tree is named crown, so this error or misinterpretation can be understood. And then the difference between the trees and the wreath is not so big, as those words were not only in the 1842 description but even in that of 1812 [alv86]. Maybe Laurie [Lri42] had heard of the arms or had heard a description from anyone. Possibly the bishopric had used two trees?
Ralf Stelter, 23 Jan 2001

Paraguayan flag chart (source and date unidentified)

Translation of the French Text

I. National Ensign { This flag is displayed from the corne (bow?) of all warships and on the forts of the Republic of the Paraguay.

II. Merchant Ensign { This flag is hoisted at the corne (bow?) of all the commercial ships of the Republic of the Paraguay.

III. Flag of the Head of Government { This flag, hoisted on the main mast of a warship, indicating that the Head of Government is aboard; at the same time, the national pennant is flown above this flag and from from the stern above the National Ensign.

Ensign for small boats { With reduced dimensions, this ensign is displayed from the front of a dinghy that carries the Head of Government.

IV. Admiral's Ensign { This ensign is hoisted on the head of the foremast and indicates the presence of an Admiral or a General aboard.

Ensign for small boats { This same ensign, with reduced dimensions, is displayed from the front of a dinghy that carries an Admiral or General.
Translated by Alex Garofolo, 13 October 2014