The Haytor Volunteer Infantry Regimental Colour (Devon) 1803-1814, a very fine and rare item, the buff silk 6 feet square (c172cm) with painted decoration showing the flag of the first Union in the upper left canton, centrally the full Arms of Great Britain 1801-1813, below the Arms a scroll, ‘Haytor Rt. Volunteers’.
In 1852 the Torquay Companies of the Devon Rifle Volunteers saw fit to further embellish this historic item with a further painted scroll (gold on dark green), ‘Torquay Companies Of First Volunteer Rifles 1852’. All lettering with serifs other than ‘First’. Why they did this is extraordinary as surely the authorities knew that ‘Rifles’ did not carry Colours.
A section of the upper right corner is missing altogether as is any bullion fringe, some ‘fractures to the central Royal Arms but it is all there, a remarkable survivor and in good overall condition for its age £3,000-£5,000