SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG TO BE RAISED IN THE PHILIPPINES.

SOLD TO BENEFIT THE ACQUISITION FUND OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO. LOTS 3 TO 12.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR: THE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG TO BE RAISED IN THE PHILIPPINES.
[Raised at Camp Dewey, Manilla Bay, Luzon, Philippines: July 1898.] Large 45-star American National Flag, stenciled on hoist "U.S.Q.M.D" [U.S. Quartermasters Department], and by the maker "D.P. Nawrath & Co, New York", the flag in red, blue and white woolen weave. 1270 x 2310 mm. The 45 cotton stars applied to the blue canton in double applique, heavy aluminum rings attached at head and foot of the hoist. Lightly faded and browned, the fly slightly blown out.
Provenance: Victor Duboce, Lt. Colonel of the 1st California Volunteer Infantry; Mrs Victor Duboce, gift to the de Young collection, December 18th, 1900; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

This historic American Flag was the first flag to be raised in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, where it flew over Camp Dewey, in Manila Bay. Victor Duboce (1856-1900), was born in Illinois and at 20 came west to San Francisco and joined the army. When war was declared against Spain in April 1898, he joined up again and took command of the 1st Battalion of the California Volunteers, and set off for the Philippines. After Dewey's navy engaged the 7 ship Spanish squadron anchored in Manila Bay, there ensued a series of Spanish torpedo attacks on American vessels, and it was not until July and August that American troops could be landed on Philippine soil. Duboce landed in Manila Bay to establish Camp Dewey, where this large naval flag (out of ship's stores) was flown. This was the first American flag to be flown on Philippine soil during the short-lived Philippines-American War. The Spanish soon sued for peace and the Treaty of Paris was signed in August 1898. Duboce not only did a fine topographical survey of that area of Luzon, but later during the Philippine-American War from February 1899 onwards, he fought against Philippine Nationalists at Paco and San Miguel in the suburbs of Manila. In July 1899, he returned to San Francisco, presumably invalided out of the Army, as he died of a tropical illness, aged 43, in August 1900.

The Zaricor flag collection has two flags collected by Duboce during his service in the Philippines, comprising a Nationalist flag captured from Pasig, near Manila in 1899, and a Spanish National flag captured in San Miguel district in 1898. Both of these were once part of his widow's gift to the de Young Museum in San Francisco.