AMERICAN FLAG – [SPRENGEL, M.] Historisch Genealogischer Calender oder Jahrbuch der merkwürdigsten neuen Welt Begebenheiten für 1784. Leipzig: zur Messe beÿ Haude und Spener von Berlin, [1783].

One of the earliest published depictions of the American flag, 1783. Published for the Leipzig Fair, the almanac offers an interesting history of the American Revolution from the Stamp Act Crisis through the Treaty of Paris and is copiously illustrated with depictions of the Battle of Lexington (with the wrong date: 19 April 1774), Bunker Hill, Trenton, Franklin presenting his credentials to Louis XVI, the Battle of Newport, the capture of John André, and Yorktown. Of special interest is a pair of hand-colored plates, one of which depicts various American military uniforms opposite an image of the American flag with 13 red, blue and white stripes and with five-pointed stars arranged in a 3-2-3-2-3 pattern together with a matching streamer below.

16mo (108 x 75mm). (Lacking printed title.) Engraved title, hand-colored folding map of the U.S., 12 plates, 1 plate of portrait heads, 2 numismatic plates, hand-colored plate of flags, 2 hand-colored plates of military costume. Original boards (mild rubbing to tips, upper hinge strengthened); clamshell box. Provenance: Isaac Greenwood (bookplate; one page manuscript notes and presentation inscription to) – The New York Historical Society.