Last modified: 2024-05-11 by ian macdonald
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![[Flag of American Samoa]](../images/a/as.gif)
1:2 ![[FIS Code]](../misc/fissumry.gif){kind=small}
image by
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
Status: territory of the United States
Flag hoisted: 27 April 1960
See also:
In his left claw is an orator's "fly-flap". This is a functional
object (used to shoo flies away) which has become the symbol of a
"talking chief", one of the ranks of Samoan nobles. In his right
claw is what looks like a dance-paddle, a form of club used in dancing.
Stuart Park 19 February 1996
According to Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags, 1985 [mch85a]:
Jarig Bakker, 10 April 2000The flag is blue with a white triangle, edged in red, based on the fly. The triangle extends to the hoist and bears the American eagle in proper colors and facing towards the hoist. It grasps the symbol of power of the Samoan chiefs, the "uatogi" (war-club), and the symbol of wisdom of the councils, the "fue" (ritual stick). The colors of the flag are both Samoan and American, and the American eagle, holding traditional Samoan emblems, represents the protection and friendship of the United States.
The colors of the flag of American Samoa are a bit tricky. I have not found
any legislation, yet. Its flag consists of a dark red-edged white triangle with
dark blue upper and lower triangles, as we can see it at
Government of American Samoa page. It seems to
be identical with the American colors.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags
and Anthems Manual London 2012) provides recommendations for national flag
designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for
their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm
version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the
official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC
believed the flag to be. For American Samoa, PMS 281 blue, 032 red, 109 yellow,
167 brown and black. The vertical version has the eagle's wings on the left, and
the fly-whisk on the right.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012
Flags
and Anthems Manual London 2012 gives a color specification: PMS 281 blue,
032 red, 109 yellow, 167 brown and black. However, PMS 032 is a lighter red
color, so called Pomegranade red, which is definitely not dark red.
According to the Flag Manual - Beijing 2008, the colors are similar ones, PMS
032 (red), PMS 102 (yellow), PMS 281 (blue), PMS 440 (brown) and Black.
Two French Navy Books illustrated the flag with dark blue and dark red colors,
but they didn’t give any color specification.
Vexilla Mundi gives colors
in Pantone system as follows: Blue 280C, Red 200C and White. These colors are
very similar to flags seen on pictures (and they are identical with colors of
U.S. flag).
Wikipedia illustrates the flag with dark blue and dark red
colors, but didn’t give any color specification.
An
image at the
Government of American Samoa page doesn’t show the details, but I found another
flag image where we can see details of the eagle as well.
Olympic Flag Manuals and French Navy Books illustrates the eagle in plain one
brown color, Vexilla Mundi and Wikipedia gives detailed versions, where there
are at least three shades of brown of eagle feather.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
![[Flag of American Samoa]](../images/a/as-vert.gif)
image by
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
The vertical flag, based on the Olympic Flag Manuals, has the eagle's wings
on the left, and the fly-whisk on the right.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
![[seal of American Samoa]](../images/a/as).gif)
![[seal of American Samoa]](../images/a/as)col.gif)
image by
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
American Samoa has a seal, which is a black and white disk depicting a
traditional local design. Wikipedia describes it: "The fly switch (fue)
represents wisdom and the staff (To'oto'o) represents authority. Both
symbols are used by talking chiefs indicating their rank. The Tanoa (kava
bowl) represents service to the chief. The tapa clothed background represents
the artistry of the Samoan people. It also includes the date April 17, 1900,
which was the date when Samoa became a U.S. territory. The seal was
introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on March 2, 1985.” I
also found a colorized version of the seal.
Zoltan Horvath, 2 April 2024
