{"product_id":"walter-kennedy-flag-c1719-pirate-wax-99734","title":"Walter Kennedy Flag - c.1719 - Pirate Wax Seal Stamp","description":"\u003cp\u003eWalter Kennedy Flag, Traditional Pirate Emblem - c.1719 - Historical Wax Seal Stamp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWax seal stamp featuring the flag traditionally associated with Walter Kennedy, an English pirate active during the Golden Age of Piracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWalter Kennedy was born in Wapping, London, and originally went to sea in the Royal Navy. He later became involved with the pirate company that included Howell Davis and Bartholomew Roberts, eventually serving aboard Roberts’ vessels during operations in the Atlantic and along the West African coast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1719, while Roberts was temporarily absent, Kennedy and part of the crew sailed away with the Rover and a captured vessel. Kennedy was subsequently chosen as captain by the departing crew. Their intention soon turned towards returning home rather than continuing their previous activities, although poor navigation famously brought them to the coast of Scotland when they had intended to reach Ireland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flag traditionally attributed to Walter Kennedy is one of the more elaborate designs associated with Golden Age piracy. It is usually shown on a black field, with a skull and crossed bones on one side and a standing figure holding an hourglass and a sabre on the other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is, however, an important historical qualification to this attribution. No contemporary evidence has yet been identified showing Walter Kennedy using this particular flag. A very similar design is documented for the French pirate Jean Thomas Dulaien, while another period description refers to a separate pirate known simply as Captain Kennedy. Over time, these designs appear to have become associated with Walter Kennedy in modern collections of pirate flags.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design reproduced here should therefore be regarded as the traditional Walter Kennedy emblem rather than a securely documented reconstruction of a flag personally flown by him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKennedy remains an interesting figure because contemporary accounts preserve unusually detailed information about his experiences aboard pirate vessels. An early account attributed to Kennedy describes how crews selected their own captain and deliberately limited the amount of authority held by any one individual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDesign: Traditional Walter Kennedy flag\u003cbr\u003e\nPerson: Walter Kennedy\u003cbr\u003e\nDate: c.1719\u003cbr\u003e\nPeriod: Golden Age of Piracy\u003cbr\u003e\nAssociation: Rover \/ Bartholomew Roberts\u003cbr\u003e\nSource Basis: Traditional later attribution\u003cbr\u003e\nStamp Size: 30 mm\u003cbr\u003e\nMaterial: Solid brass\u003cbr\u003e\nType: Wax seal stamp \/ sealing stamp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach stamp is made of solid brass, supplied with a handle, and presented in a velvet pouch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuitable for letters, envelopes, maritime collections, historical displays, nautical-themed stationery, pirate collections and decorative sealing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“They had the choice in themselves.” — Walter Kennedy\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NobleSeals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58073775636820,"sku":"HIS-PIR-1719-KENNEDY-O-30MM","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0927\/6352\/1364\/files\/il_fullxfull.8632595110_38qk.jpg?v=1793556977","url":"https:\/\/nobleseals.co.uk\/products\/walter-kennedy-flag-c1719-pirate-wax-99734","provider":"NobleSeals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}