Last modified: 2021-08-25 by christopher oehler
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Two white harpoons in saltire in the canton of the
state ensign.
Željko Heimer, 31 May 2004
image by Željko Heimer and António Martins-Tuválkin
This is a flag with a very interesting history. It was originally the
flag of a trading company, but evolved into the ensign used by
ships belonging to the Ministry for Greenland. The flag was first
introduced in 1781, and had two white harpoons in saltire in the
canton. From 1795 the letters "K.G.H.", meaning Kongelig Grønlandske Handel (Royal Greenland Trading Company) in
gold/yellow were added to the centre of the cross. The letters
later disappeared and a Royal resolution of 28 June 1846
confirmed the harpoons only. Closer to our time, the flag
was used by the Ministry for Greenland and its subdivisions
(for instance the Royal Greenland Trading Company).
Presumably it became obsolete when Greenland got its
own flag and the home rule authorities took over the
responsibility for the services formerly run by the Ministry
for Greenland and the Royal Greenland Trading Company.
Paige Herring, 23 April 1998
Allen and
Ginter's Card series (erroneously) shows this flag for Iceland: a golden pair of crossed
arrows pointing up on the canton and "KGH" on the horizontal
crossbar.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 18 September 2006