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California Vintage Bear Flag Heavy Cotton Art Tee

California Vintage Bear Flag Heavy Cotton Art Tee

$36.00 USD
$36.00 USD
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Who painted the first Bear Flag? William Todd, a nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln, on a scrap of cotton in Sonoma in June 1846. This tee wears his flag the way he made it: rough, homemade and a little crooked.

A heavy, garment-dyed tee with the original 1846 flag on the chest, not the polished state version. It is the one Californians recognize and almost nobody has, and it gets a better conversation going than any souvenir shirt.

Todd worked with what the settlers had on hand. Accounts differ on the paint, and one well-worn story says berry juice, but they agree on the result: a single star, a grizzly walking toward it and a bar along the bottom, with CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC lettered underneath.

The bear came out badly. Mexican onlookers in Sonoma are said to have called it a pig, and the joke has followed the flag ever since. Todd's crooked grizzly still became the outline every later version followed, all the way to the flag California flies today.

Ring-spun cotton at 6.1 oz with a garment-dyed finish and a relaxed fit, in nine soft colors. See the table for sizes. Wash cold, no bleach, tumble dry low; iron low away from the art and do not dry clean.


  S M L XL 2XL
Width, in 18.25 20.25 22.00 24.00 26.00
Length, in 26.62 28.00 29.37 30.75 31.62
Sleeve length from center back, in 16.25 17.75 19.00 20.50 21.75
Size tolerance, in 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50

QUICK FACTS — BEAR FLAG HEAVY COTTON ART TEE

Series: Bear Flag Collection

Design: Bear Flag — the homemade 1846 Bear Flag of the California Republic, original Merlin Classics vintage drawing, printed artwork

Blank: 6.1 oz ring-spun cotton tee, garment-dyed, relaxed fit

Care: cold wash, no bleach, tumble dry low, iron low away from the art, no dry cleaning

Colors: 9 offered

Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL

Made to order in the USA



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Wear Local. Feed Local. Stay Classic.

Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Every item is made to order, so please check the size chart on this page before you buy. Women's fitted tees run small; size up for a looser fit. Caps are one size with an adjustable strap.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item to order using premium blanks, embroidery and soft-hand prints. Production takes 2-5 business days (weekends and holidays excluded), then 4-10 days in transit via USPS, UPS or FedEx to U.S. addresses; most orders arrive within 6-15 business days. You'll get a tracking link the moment it ships. Any current shipping offer is shown in the bar at the top of every page and applies automatically at checkout, no code needed.

How do I send a gift?

Enter the recipient's address as the shipping address and your own as the billing address at checkout. Nothing ships with a price; the package includes a plain packing slip. Tracking goes to your email, not theirs. For birthdays and holidays, order two weeks ahead to be safe.

What's the return policy?

Made-to-order items can't be returned or exchanged for size or color, so please use the size chart and photos before ordering. If anything arrives defective, misprinted or damaged, send a photo and your order number within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you.

How do I care for my item?

Apparel: wash cold, inside out, with like colors; no bleach; tumble dry low or hang dry. Embroidered pieces: iron inside out to protect the stitching. Caps: spot clean. Printed glasses and water bottles: hand wash only, no dishwasher, so the artwork lasts. Mugs and engraved glasses are dishwasher safe. Any item-specific care notes are in the description above.

Who makes this?

Merlin Classics is a small Connecticut brand making original retro designs for the towns people love. Every piece is printed, embroidered or engraved to order in the USA, and the business supports hunger relief in the communities our collections celebrate.

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