Tom
... Foreign flag makers... im still chasing all that, its still quite early in the research. Ive thus far identified a number of commerical flag makers that were in existance during that time in those areas frequented by some of the southern ship. But trying to determine and confirm who did or might have has been quite ellusive and time consuming. Several of the large 2d National flags reportedly to have been naval flags with incomplete history associated, some were found to have faint makers stamps on them. So working when able to connect the dots so to speak to try to give a better view of the big picture there. Or at least a better foundation and launching point for more definative research on them.

Stan
... Yes Liverpool England.... typing too fast and not re-reading before send...lol..
At least one CS 2nd national with nautical relationship that was known to have come out of a family and small collection in Nova-Scotia, reportedly given to the family by a Confederate Naval Officer... as a gift... a family member at the time worked in a ship chancellor business there at the time.. On the hoist edge of this flag amongst other hand written markings is two very faint makers stamps... what appears to be a name (possibly "morris"). and below that you can clearly read "Liverpool".... Ive also been informed of others simular with reported French and Irish makers marks on them... still to be further researched and confirmed....

Of course questions arose out of who and how many Liverpool and other makers were making flags on order for or marketing them to the frequenting southern ships... Secondly how much of an issue existed with these being obtained... since there appears to be a number of them exising reportedly given away as gifts... and were these purchased for this purpose... How great a meaning and honor to recieve a gift such as a ships national flag... Also if this was some habit with some officers it would also help explain why so many flags are out there reportedly contributed to some given famous ship....

Third since many private ships in Britian quitely partook of the profitable blockaide running... (many of them home port in Liverpool) and finding accounts that many of these ships would fly their own national flag while at sea... then when nearing a southern port after getting past the Federal ships... they would reportedly hoist up a confederate flag... to give notice to port defences that they were friendly and inbound... they would have gotten these CS flags from somewhere.... most likely had them made locally around their home ports... which would also give some explanation to the number of odd and mystery CS naval flags existing with no known history of origin....

Lots of pondering questions and possible theories... working on the research to try to see if there may be any real evidence to tie some of this or parts thereof together in some fashion...

Frederick