Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag

Over the last 224 years, the Stars and Stripes has been through endless permutations and representations. Long May She Wave: A Graphic History of the American Flag presents 500 color illustrations of Old Glory, depicted on pencils, fans, Christmas ornaments, penknives, compacts, belt buckles and in modern art. Kit Hinrichs's 3,000-piece flag collection, photographed here by Terry Heffernan, forms the basis of the book (written with Delphine Hirasuna) and includes Hinrichs's great-great-great-aunt's 1865 banner. The introduction by Museum of American Folk Art director Gerard Wertkin provides historical context (Why do flags adorn public schools? When did the practice of a stripe for each state become unwieldy?) for the mesmerizing graphics. ( June)