Flags of All Nations

Colorful flag diagram showing the global maritime organization in the early years of the Cold War.

This chart depicts the ensigns, flags, and pendants of various nations around the world at the beginning of the 1950’s. What was originally designed as a useful reference for naval symbols has become, to a modern audience, a “snapshot” of the political organization in the early years of the Cold War. Given the chart is a production of the United Kingdom, it’s not surprising to see the flags of the British Commonwealth dominating the top of the sheet. Further examination reveals these as a detailed expression of the fracturing of the British Empire that occurred after World War II.

A review of the rest of the image provides an incredible amount of contextual information about the ongoing global situation, including the establishment of Israel, the organization of the U.S.S.R., the importance of the United Nations, and hints of increasing global independence movements (see Libya). Multiple ensigns are shown to differentiate various purposes, including the International Code of Signals at the bottom of the page. Three hundred and twenty-five flags are listed in all and individually labeled on the verso of the sheet.

The chart was originally issued by Brown, Son & Ferguson in Glasgow. The company was established in 1850 as a stationary business, but frequent visits by captains of ships along the River Clyde led the firm to begin publishing material specific to maritime interests. They continue to operate and publish maps and charts to this day. This example was updated to February 1952 by H. Gresham Carr of the Royal Geographic Society.