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Denmark: Colonial Merchant Ensign

by Željko Heimer

The state ensign with a white panel in the middle containing a yellow emblem. The emblem consist of the royal cypher of Christian IX (CR IX) with two crowned lions rampant regardant combatant holding two crowns and initials DOP.
Željko Heimer, 3 June 2004

DOP stands for Dansk Ostindisk Paquet, a shipping service run to keep up trade with the colonies in India at a time when the Asiatic Company was unable to send ships. We are talking about the period from 1803 to 1806, and the cipher should be the one for Christian 7. To see it reported in 1929 as a colonial merchant ensign is a reminder that in many instances flags and ensigns take on a life of their own in flag books and charts long after they went out of use 'in real life.'
Jan Oskar Engene, 6 June 2004