"The Continental Navy" Hooded sweatshirt

This is an advance order. We will start shipping the week of October 6 beginning with our advance orders.  

Our latest original design in our collection for the 250th recognizes the birth of the Continental Navy and its founding on October 13, 1775, 250 years ago this year.

On the front:

• The Serapis Flag

On the back:

• "The Continental Navy of the Thirteen United States"
• The dates October 13, 1775 - August 1, 1785 — these dates represent the official lifespan of the Continental Navy
• Three flags, our nation's first flag, the Grand Union Flag, Washington's Headquarters Flag, and the Appeal to Heaven Flag
• A list of major battles where the Continental Navy engaged
• Illustration of USS Bonhomme Richard, famous for its fight with HMS Serapis
• John Paul Jones, known as the “Father of the American Navy" and John Barry who is considered a founder of the Continental Navy.

The sweatshirt: 

• Navy - Comfortable and durable 50% cotton/50% polyester hooded sweatshirt. Matching drawcord and extra large pocket. Double-needle stitched armholes and waistband. 7.8 ounce. Sizes: S-5XL. See size chart.
• All shirts are printed in New England.

Also available: 

• T-shirt — Made in America
• Long-sleeved shirt — Made in America
• Women's fitted v-neck shirt
• Sticker

Historical background on the Serapis Flag

Here is the contemporary pic, made by Dutch authorities at Texel within a day or so of John Paul Jones arriving in the port (Serapis is the lower one).  

Ben Franklin and others had been telling various European courts that the flag of the United States was red, white, and blue stripes, with a small square in upper corner with thirteen white stars on blue.  

The irregular arrangement of the stripes is probably accurate--the flag was made in a hurry.  

The stars may well have been eight-pointed as depicted, but would definitely have points and sharp inner angles, not a scalloped circle or two squares superimposed as sometimes portrayed in later and modern drawings.  The flag may have been a little more rectangular than portrayed here, but the union would still be square, not stretched out in proportion.  

On the other hand, the artist clearly shows the flag of Alliance long enough to fold back on itself, whereas the Serapis is more nearly square.

The Serapis Flag remains one of the most distinctive early U.S. naval flags, symbolizing both the improvisation and determination of the young Continental Navy.

Our thanks to Steven Hill, author of "Battle Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754–1783: Foreign Armies and Regiments," for providing the historical background. Signed copies of his book are available here.

Design © 2025 Larry Stuart Studio.