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Liberian presidential flags

Last modified: 2009-09-12 by antónio martins
Keywords: star: 5 points (white) | stripes: 11 | shield | presidential | stars: 4 |
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Presidential flag
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002
See also:

About the flag

A blue square field with one white star in each corner, representing the Supreme Commander, and a centered shield in the form of the national flag (shield outlined in gold; upper part blue with a white star; lower part, eleven vertical alternating red and white stripes). «Whether this is actually in use is in doubt, in view of the civil war in Liberia since 1990.» (Sources: [rya97], [pie90] and [smi80])
Ivan Sache, 01 Jun 1999

Since the Liberia flag is influenced by the US flag, then I guess that this flag was influenced by the former flag of the US President (blue rectangle, US coat of arms in centre, four white stars in the corner.)
Zachary Harden, 07 Jul 2003

One interesting fact is that the shield violates the rules of heraldry by having an odd number of red stripes, thus placing a blue chief (color) on a red shield (also color). The US solves this by changing the stripes to seven white, six red.
Nathan Lamm, 07 Jul 2003

This flag came into use after WWII, as the first mention that I am aware of is in [smi75c]. Possibly it is from 1965 as are the provincial flags, introduced by president Tubman. Also, possibly that the flag was abandoned with his era, too? Do we have any “modern” confirmation of this flag?
Željko Heimer, 09 May 2002

President Tubman died and was succeeded by President Tolbert, who was overthrown and killed in a military coup in April 1980.
John Ayer, 09 May 2002

Different sources from different dates show different liberian presidential flags. I don’t suppose that we will be able to trace exact dates of the changes of these.
Željko Heimer, 09 May 2002


Correct version?

Presidential flag
image by António Martins, 24 Nov 2005

German TV reported today (ZDF, heute-Journal, 21.45-22.00) on Liberian president Charles Taylor, his imminent abdication etc. The presidential flag was shown several times (behind Taylor together with the national flag; as car flag together with the national flag). Although it was not totally unfurled, it didn’t look like the flag above. Instead of the shield in the form of the national flag it obviously showed the coat-of-arms in the center (plus the four stars in the corners).
Marcus Schmöger, 06 Jul 2003


Presidential flag as of 1955

Presidential flag
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002

Admirality 1955 book [hms55] shows 2:3 presidential flag with shield as in Album 2000 [pay00], but without the four stars.
Željko Heimer, 11 May 2002, quoting Jaume Ollé


Presidential flag as of 1939

Presidential flag
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002

Flaggenbuch (1939-1941) [neu92] has flag that is virtually the same as the latter flag of military authorities, 2:3 blue flag with pally shield and star. The minor difference (black line aournd the shield, size of the charges) are probably of no significance.
Željko Heimer, 09 May 2002


Presidential flag as of 1917

Presidential flag
image by Željko Heimer, 16 May 2002

National Geographic Magazine (1917.10) [gmc17] has a variation of this that is square with yet different artistic rendition of the shield.
Željko Heimer, 09 May 2002

This flag has the number 765 in the flag number of National Geographic Magazine (1917.10) [gmc17].
Željko Heimer, 10 May 2002


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