The Department does not object to the use of envelopes bearing pictures of the flag, when placed upon the back of the envelope. When on the face of the envelope in most cases the stamp cannot be canceled, nor the letter postmarked, without defacing the flag.
United States Flags (Part Next to the United States the offi cial flag of the President merits the greatest respect. The President's flag is blue or azure with four white stars, one in each corner of the flag, and in the centre appears in proper heraldic tinctures the President's official seal, which is strikingly like the Great Seal of the United States, and hence many writers and speakers have pronounced it the national Coat of Arms. This difference however exists between the two designs: On the Great Seal (see GREAT SEAL. OF THE UNITED STATES) the 13 stars are argent, arranged over the eagle's head so as to form one large star, while on the President's device nine stars arch across the eagle's head and the other four stars are on the dexter side of the eagle's beak; the President's device has a glory break ing back of the eagle and the streams illumi nate the stars and clouds which hover over the stars; the clouds in the Great Seal are made as 13 and encircle the group of stars; the motto "E Pluribus Unum" on the National Seal is placed in a double streamer ribbon, on the dexter stream the words CE Pluribus"— while on the sinister one, the word "Unum" appears, the eagle beak holding the streamers .at centre. When the President visits a vessel of the United States his official flag is broken at the main, as he steps upon the deck of the ship, and re mains so until he leaves the boat. It is also expected as this flag is unfurled to have a salute of 21 guns; and when the President de parts a similar salute is fired, the last shot as the flag is gathered in. When the President visits on land and makes a hotel, summer home or camp his personal headquarters, his flag is floated from sunrise to sunset. His flag is one of the most difficult and handsome emblems ever constructed; made of silk and embroidered, involving expert needlework, it is considered the most gorgeous design in our national heraldry.
The flag of the Secretary of the Navy is blue or azure with four white stars, one in each corner and in the centre of the flag the °Anchor of Hope," that early device of the United States navy.
The Assistant Secretary of the Navy has a flag of white or argent, four blue stars, one in each corner and an anchor in azure.
The flag of the Secretary of War is a later conception and consists of red silk with four white stars, one in each corner, and in the centre of the flag, and in proper heraldic tinctures the exact device known as the Great Seal of the United States. His flag has a narrow white border.
The flag of the Assistant Secretary of War is white with four red stars, one in each corner of the flag, and in the centre in proper heraldic tinctures the Great Seal of the United States. His flag has a narrow red border.
The flag of the United States infantry is blue with the Great Seal of the United States in proper tinctures, and beneath that device a red scroll with the words "United States In fantry" in white; this flag has a narrow yellow border.
The flag of the coast artillery is red with the Great Seal of the United States in proper tinctures; beneath two cannons crossed; below which, a yellow scroll with these words in red, °United States Coast Corps Artillery°; the border is yellow.
The flag of the Chief of Staff is half red and white, the division being on a bias, the upper triangle or pole side being red with a white star in the upper corner and the float end tri angle white with a red star in lower corner; in centre of entirety on a large white star ap pears the Great Seal of the United States and in heraldic tinctures; the border is narrow and yellow.
The flag of the engineer corps is red with Great Seal of United States in centre, beneath which the symbol of the fortress, below which on a white scroll are the words in red "First United States Engineers"; the border is narrow and white.
The Secretary of the United States Treasury flag is blue with two white anchors crossed and entirety surrounded by 13 white stars. This flag is flown when the secretary is on board vessels in the treasury service, he being the commander-in-chief of the Coast Guard and Public Health service.