WW11 Souvenir Jap Flag

[bigduke6]

Is the writing paint or ink ? the fact its been folded and stored, the folds and creases will come out if like the others have said its sandwiched between something for some time. I straightened an old flag years ago using a trouser press and used very little to no heat.

[browningautorifle]

You can have it framed using acid free backing and and a special grade of glass (UV protection) that will help prevent fading. Have a picture done like that and its worth the cost. Any good framing shop should tell you what you need. I wouldn't worry too much about the wrinkles.

Sounds about right.

[Boonie Stomper]

Painter777 that is an incredible "find". A Japanese WW2 battle flag has long been on my wish list. it's especially nice to have the provenance with it. I will add my 2 cents worth.....

I faced a similar issue, but what I had was a WW2 USAAF "silk" escape map. The USAAF maps were not really silk, but rayon acetate. I found my map in a used clothing store, among lady's scarves. It was rather crumpled & wrinkled, and like you, I did not want to damage it. Using our ironing board & elect. iron, I "sandwiched" the map between pieces of un-colored cotton fabric. Starting at lower temps, I experimented until the wrinkles were gone. The map was not damaged at all & wrinkle-free.

The dilemma now is what now? It measures 34" x 30" and that would take a large frame & also I have run out of wall space to display it.

I like Central Michigan. I met my lovely wife of 40+ years in Jackson, MI.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

What a treasure.
Thanks for your stewardship and sharing it with us.

[Peter Laidler]

Really, I'd say get the creases out of it by all means but please resist any desire to display it anywhere except controlled light. It WILL fade albeit eventually. Avoid any natural light or even bright light like the plague!

[painter777]

Damn boys..........
Now you've got me too nervous to touch or even look at it !
My wife retired from and knows a few over at Michigan State University.
She'll be contacting, her contacts this week to get some help.

I just talked with my Daughter in law explaining that these flags were highly sought after as souvenirs, along with a Samurai sword.
To my shock she replied "The long sword thing?" "We have that also, along with a little one and the things they slide in"

We'll be seeing each other over fathers day.
I sit amazed!

Thx All
Charlie-Painter777

[browningautorifle]

Love to see that long sword thing and the little one...and the things they slide into also. Make it so...

[Flying10uk]

What some people do if they have a framed picture or painting that they are concerned about being damaged by light is to have a black veil/curtain covering the frame which is only lifted up when they wish to look at the picture.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Good point about the UV and glass.

Standard "float" glass lets a lot of the UV through, but reflects most of the Infra-Red that is the result of the UV penetrating the glass.If it didn't, greenhouses wouldn't work.

Polycarbonates like "Perspex", are pretty good at blocking UV, as I found out many years ago trying to use a piece to make printed-circuit boards using it as a "cover" for the negs. I had made from my Boshop Grappics track layouts. (long story).

Like a precious oil-painting, whatever the transparent material covering it, avoid direct sunlight as much as possible.

[lgr1613]

As I understand it these flags were given to Japanese soldiers when they went to war by their families. The family members would write well-wishes and farewells on the flags as in this example.

I have heard that many WW2 veterans, or their family members, have returned these flags to to Japan so that the Japanese families will have some remembrance of their lost loved ones.

Not knowing how to post a link, just enter the following search to learn more:

'Aging U.S. Veterans Seek To Return Captured WWII Flags To Japan'

Just so you know - do as you wish of course....