State Services Ensigns 1863-1867 (Prussia, Germany)

Inland Waters Services

Last modified: 2022-10-14 by german editorial team
Keywords: prussia: kingdom | eagle (black) | iron cross | cross: formy (black) | postal | pilot | customs | fishery | bugle (yellow) | post horn (yellow) | anchor (blue) | anchors: crossed | anchors: 4 | kz | letters: 2 (blue) | anchor: fou |
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• Postal Ensign 1863-1867
• Postal Jack 1863-1867
• Pilot Vessels (reported 1863)
• Other Vessels of the Ministry of Trade (reported 1863)
• Cargo Ships' Ensign 1863-1867 (Naval Labour Vehicle Flag reported 1863)
• Customs (reported 1863)
• Fishery Inspection Pennant
• Service Flag for other Government Vehicles (1867?)

See also:

• State Services Ensigns 1895-1918 (sea services)
• Kingdom of Prussia 1701-1918
• Prussia Historical Flags
• Germany

by Jaume Ollé
Flag adopted 6 July 1863, abandoned 1867

A rectangular flag, otherwise similar to the war ensign, but with a yellow posthorn in lower hoist.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Adopted 6 July 1863. In use until 1867. Source: a paper by Emil Dreyer in the Reports of the 15th International Congress of Vexillology.

Norman Martin, 10 December 1999

White rectangular flag with yellow posthorn at center. Adopted 6 July 1863. In use until 1867. Source: a paper by Emil Dreyer in the Reports of the 15th International Congress of Vexillology.

Norman Martin, 10 December 1999

Reported 1863

by Jaume Ollé

Like that of the Post Office, but with blue crossed anchors instead of the posthorn in lower hoist.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

Editor's note: see also the pilot flag.

Reported 1863

by Jaume Ollé

Like that of the Post Office, but with a blue vertical anchor instead of the posthorn in lower hoist.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

This was the ensign used by ships owned by the board of trade from 1863 until 1867, but it must be swallow-tailed.

Mario Fabretto, 17 August 1998

Naval Labour Vehicle Flag reported 1863

by Jaume Ollé

Like that of the Post Office, but with, in the lower hoist, 4 red anchors with points towards the center thus forming an apparent X.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

This was the ensign used by cargo ships (1863-1867); the four red anchors were without cords [i.e. not fouled].

Mario Fabretto, 17 August 1998

Reported 1863

by Jaume Ollé

Like that of the Other Vessels of the Ministry of Trade, with the blue letters K and Z on each side of anchor.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

White pennant (ratio c. 4:5) with red letters FA [for Fischerei-Aufsicht, fishery inspection] in the center.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

by Jaume Ollé

Like the war ensign 1818-1867, but the eagle is like that of North German Ensign, with a blue vertical fouled anchor in lower hoist. Hence like the Other Vessels of the Ministry of Trade, but swallow-tailed and anchor is fouled.

Norman Martin, 20 January 1998

In the period 1867-1895 all the service flags were substituted by the Northern Confederation (later Empire) flags, so Prussia had no particular service flag. The [above] reconstructed flag could be the ensign used by ships owned by the board of trade from 1863 until 1867 but the blue anchor was without cord [i.e. not fouled]. The eagle design was according to the period.

Mario Fabretto, 17 August 1998

The flag described (with its indicated use) comes from Siegel 1912. It has no date but the form of the eagle caused me to guess at 1867 (hence the question mark). The anchor is fouled in the illustration.

Norman Martin, 17 August 1998

Editor's note: see also the State Ensign used on Inland Waters 1895-1918.