A 2012 auction in Genoa, Italy unveiled for the first time the flag of the principality, physically intact, displayed inside a square laminated wooden frame, with the descriptive title shown at the bottom in golden letters, embossed onto a black coated strip.
The flag was found in Durrës on 20 December 1915 and had been taken from there by Italian diplomat Baron Carlo Aliotti aboard the Austrian destroyer SMS Lika.
[4] The flag variant widely in use today bears a resemblance to the graphic illustration found on the hardcover of the book from Spiridon Gopcevic, titled "Das Fürstentum Albanien", 359 pages, published in Berlin (1914) by Hermann Paetel Verlag.
[7][8]The Albanian flag is red, charged at the center with the black double-headed eagle and the sign of the lictor fasces.
[13]The description of the flag is further specified in the official journal of the Albanian government, in its 18th annual edition, dated 25 November 1939, issue nr.116, page.3, which reads:[14] The National Flag of the Kingdom of Albania is formed by a cloth in a rectangular shape, high in two thirds of its length, red in color, charged in the center with a red shield (scudo) with the black two-headed eagle crowned by the helm of Skanderbeg, in black color.
[16] Improvised vertical flags, which differed in shape and contortion, were used during this period, notably at the funeral procession of regent Fuad Dibra on February 23, 1944, and during the oath ceremony of government military formations.
The national flag represents a blood red field, with a black double-headed eagle in the center, with open wings on the sides.
In the beginning, the flag was raised by representatives of the people followed from the crowd that sang various religious prayers, with ... (note: here is a broken line) ... a part of the Turkish Empire (mostly Albanian land).
In 1880, after the Congress of Berlin had decided that Plava and Gucija would be awarded to Montenegro, the parish of Petrelë, inclined by this flag, marched as far as Shkodër.
The people had the undenying conviction that in this flag they would come victorious against any army, thus giving discomfort and expelling the enemy to escape.
No special flag bearer has been assigned for its defence but the person holding it in the ceremonies was chosen by the most able of men ... (note: here the sheet is edged).
12341), French daily newspaper Le Rappel published a snippet with the subheading "THE ALBANIAN FLAG" which reads as follows:[42] (From our private correspondent) Athens, December 23.
It is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, dated June 18, 2010 which states: I hereby certify that this flag from Albania (1946–1976) included with this letter went to the moon aboard Apollo 15 in the spacecraft ENDEAVOUR.
It remained in the command module during the lunar orbit phase of the flight.The “Kuq e Zi” (“Red and Black”) of Albania is a tribute to the perseverance, tenacity, and extraordinary history of the great Albanian people and one Albanian woman in particular who is the long-term partner of the expedition's sponsor and who remains a strong supporter of the expedition.The flag's dimensions are 158 cm by 117 cm.
In the center, painted in a golden yellow brush is the following text: SOQÈRÍA E SQIPÈTAREVÈT “DRITA” PÈR MÈSIM NÈ SQIP FILUARÈ NÈ BUCUREȘT 1884 ȘÈ NDREUT 16Decorations like the laurels, the crescent with the eight-pointed star and the one-headed eagle are also painted in golden yellow.
Noticeable to the naked eye is that above the eight-pointed star is drawn with a carbon pencil an orthodox cross-shaped symbol, which is an overlap from a later period.
NE SOFJE.On the sides hang yellow, heavy fringes, which, like the letters and the two upper tassels, are considered golden.
1918A real lace material made of yellow metallic yarn that mimics gold, surrounds the entire flag.
In between, a lyre that shines like gold is made of yellow foil, while the metal thread is in copper, the surface of which is enriched with zinc, giving the brass a golden appearance.
[59] In excerpts published by the French literary journal "L'Écho des Jeunes" from its 238th issue, dated 1 October 1903, a brief profile of Don Juan de Aladro Kastrioti is given which includes a speech he had made on 31 January 1902 and addressed to the Albanian people that mentions the following:[61] "The glorious name of Skanderbeg is our banner.
Similar maps validating the historical ethnographic reach of the Albanian speaking population had been confirmed by prior authors such as Lejean (1861), Mirkovich (1867), Kiepert (1876), Sax (1877) and Markezinis (1905).
[65] The same flag was used in Vlorë, when Boletini and a cavalry of four hundred fighters entered the city on the day Albania declared its independence.
The flag is made of red silk, edged with golden fringes and has in the center a black double-headed vulture with the heads of a serpent looking down.
He is featured in a painting by Nikolet Vasia which inspired the famous scene in the 1982 film Nëntori i Dytë, where Boletini is seen kneeling down and kissing the Albanian flag while Ismail Qemali and other participants look on.
In the center, is displayed a circular seal consisting of the double-headed black eagle, the national symbol of the Albanian population of Kosovo.
Two six-pointed stars which are placed on the golden backgrounds symbolize the movement of the sun and life and are thought to be of medieval Albanian origin.
The emblem was conceived in late December 1997 and in the following weeks it began mass production at a textile factory in Switzerland where the first specimens were printed.
The yellow, which radiates like gold, symbolizes the sun and light, whereby the KLA soldiers would bring to the lands they fought to defend.