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.

Le drapeau du Kaza de Korytza sera l’étendard traditionnel de Scanderbeg avec cravate tricolore aux couleurs françaises. ^[5]

The Kaza of Korça flag will be the traditional standard of Skanderbeg with the tricolor tie in the French colors.

Restored flags of this period are currently housed at the Flag Museum in Korçë. ^[6]

The flag is made of dark red silk or taffeta (xanthocellulose artificial silk) and has in its center a black two-headed eagle, stylized in the shape of the same eagle used by the provisional government, since a national flag had not yet been formalized. On one side of the flag there are three metal rings, which serve to tie the flag to the handle. Its dimensions are 121 cm – 70 cm. ^{[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.

Bearings: Two black Lictor fasces, supported with axes on the outside, adjoined with one another at the top by the Savoy knots in black, and below by a black stripe in the form of a scroll ribbon, charged with the word "Fert", repeated three times in red color.

The State Flag will be used in the residences of the Sovereign dignitaries and members of the Royal Family, in the Headquarters of the Upper Fascist Corporate Council and in the Government Offices, with the coat of arms headed by the Royal Crown of Savoy.

Images of the flag used during this time are available at the Istituto Luce archive. The flag is displayed at different public events, from the inauguration of a local school by prime minister Shefqet Vërlaci, to the opening session of the Albanian Fascist Party congress which was held at the Palace of the Superior Fascist Corporative Council. ^[15]

On September 8, 1943, the union with the Kingdom of Italy was officially dissolved and the country reverted to the decrees of September 1928. ^[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. ^[17]

Original specimen of the state flag of the People's Republic of Albania that was once attached to a flagpole, in ordered formation with other world flags, displayed outside the Headquarters of the United Nations during the early decade of the 1970s. The lining on the left side of the flag shows the top end of the rope in a noose shape with the lower extended end tightly knotted. The black double-headed eagle, distinctive in appearance for its diminutive neck form, centers the flag. A gold communist star, uneven, hovers right above. ^[19]

§ Article CVIII – Flag
The state flag of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania represents a red field with a black double-headed eagle in the center, on top of which is a red star with five corners, embroidered all around in gold. The ratio between the width and the length of the flag is 1:1-40. ^[21]

The flag illustration is an evolution of the original model which first appeared in membership quota passes issued as early as 1965. ^[22]

«THE VICTORIOUS FLAG OF THE PARTY, THE FLAG OF MARXISM-LENINISM, WILL ALWAYS WAVE PROUDLY IN THE NEW SOCIALIST ALBANIA»

A physical description of the flag is summarized in Article III:

§ Article III – Shapes and dimensions of the national flag

1. The national flag represents a blood red field, with a black double-headed eagle in the center, with open wings on the sides. Each of the eagle's wings has nine feathers, while the tail has seven feathers.
2. The dimensions of the national flag have an aspect ratio of 1:1.4

3. The appearance of the national flag, the strength of its colors and the ratios are those defined in appendix no.1, which is attached to this law and is an integral part of it.

The flags awarded to these battalions were made of a high quality silk material. The fiery red fabric gleams from within, extending across the surface. On each side is embroidered in black the stylized double-headed eagle. The embroidery was done conjointly, passing the black thread from one side to the other, which made the flag stronger. On one side, a lining is open for the pole to be inserted, while the other three sides are embroidered by a band of black triangles, which perhaps emulated fringes. Their dimensions are unequal, varying in length from 120 cm to 130 cm, with the width ranging from 96 cm to 98 cm. There were no set rules applied during this time period in standardizing the size of the flags. Each flag is accompanied by a dual stripe ribbon, in black and red, measuring 220 cm to 230 cm in length and 8 cm in width. The bottom of the ribbon is decorated with tassels, made of brass threads, imitating gold. On the red part, is inscribed in large yellow letters, of cotton thread, the word BATALIONI and on the black part, the name of the respective battalion. In one of the ribbons, the name of the battalion is absent, likely damaged from deterioration. It was later discovered that it belonged to the Vjosa battalion. The awarding flag ceremony took place on June 9, 1927. ^[28]

• The Land Force flag displays in the center a green shield, in which are placed two crossed rifles.

• The Air Force flag displays in the center a shield in light blue color, in which the wings are placed.

• The Naval Force flag displays in the center a shield in dark blue color, in which an anchor is placed.

• The Training and Doctrine Command flag displays in the center an olive-colored shield which consists of a compass, a quill resting on a rolled up parchment and an olive branch.

• The Logistics Brigade flag displays in the center an olive-colored shield which consists of a rotary wheel, two crossed skeleton keys and an olive branch.

• The Regional Support Brigade flag displays in the center an olive-colored shield which consists of two venetian towers connected by a bridge with a white flame rising from the top and an olive branch.

The standardized dimensions of each flag are 107x150 cm, enclosed on all sides by a golden lace. ^[29]

The flag is handed over to the Director of Police by the Minister of Internal Affairs, on the occasion of his or her appointment. It is then placed on a cylindrical pole, with a pointed finial, silver in color, which is displayed in the office of the Director of the State Police and in the offices of the heads of the local police directorates. ^[30]

• The unfurled model was conceived under the supervision of the Austro-Hungarian Consulate in Shkodër, to be presented to the Maritime Government in relation to the causality of "Fiore d'Albania". On the back of the document, the caption reads: April–May 1914; State Archive, Trieste, Maritime Government Fund, Presidial Act b.58, no.78. ^[32]
• The hoisted model was conceived under the supervision of the Port Authority and Maritime Health of Trieste, to be presented to the Maritime Government in relation to the causality of "Fiore d'Albania"; State Archive, Trieste, Maritime Government Fund, Presidial Act b.57, no.52. ^[33]

The nautical signal flag used during the communist period, upholds the design principles of its predecessors. A conspicuous three stripe layer, red–black–red, is bound to a thin cotton fabric lining which hangs vertically from a rope. The flag shown here has a slightly weathered look from actual use and measures 91 cm by 142 cm in length. ^[39]

The flag's dimensions are 95 cm x 75 cm. A field of blood-red cloth is made of a two-piece loom, of cotton thread. In the middle of the flag is the black double-headed eagle, above it is a silver shining sun and below the eagle is embroidered with Latin letters the name "MIRDITA".

It is the only surviving flag of the twelve bajraks of Mirditë. ^[40]

The flag of the Sofi Tekke of Petrelë with which the parish of Petrelë marched to Shkodër in 1880, in response to the League of Prizren calling for the defence of Plava and Gucija, was handed over to the Prefecture of Tirana in December 1938. In a correspondence with the Ministry of Internal Affairs dated January 19, 1939, the prefect of Tirana writes the following: ^[41]

The municipality of Petrelë, based on the tales of the former elders, informs us that the old flag was placed in the tomb of Jusuf Pasha (Sofi Pasha) and that it bears the words of the Qur'an "La iLaellallah..... ". 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).

— Prefect, Qamil Pepa

On Friday, 25 December 1903 (p. 2, no. 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.

The Albanian flag, which is to be unfurled at the next general uprising in Albania, is ready. It is a recreation of the old pennant of the famous chief Skanderbeg. It bears on a red background the image of a black eagle hovering above a green snake. As a symbol of the union of all the tribes, without any distinction, a cross and a crescent are placed on the axis. 1,750 flags were distributed among the volunteer corps.

An executive committee of five members was constituted with the mission of directing the operations of the Albanian insurgents.

One of the flags was first unfurled at the Church of Traboini in Hot on 6 April 1911 by Kol Ded Gjoni, son of Ded Gjo Luli and later raised several times by his fighters on top of the Bratila peak. ^[44] Placed on the flag was a piece of cloth with the inscription "Flamuri i Liris" Mars 1911 ("The Flag of Freedom", March 1911), and on the carrying spear can be seen the figurine of an eagle with flapping wings. The flag appeared in the form of a labarum, in the style of Roman legions.

The only remaining evidence of the flag is a photograph by Kel Marubi which is presently archived at the Marubi National Museum of Photography.

The flag used at the congress is found in a photograph attributed to Atelier A. Gerkic. ^[45]

The flag used to cover the coffin had been a gift to Qemali by the Duke of Montpensier, when he visited Albania in March 1913 and was safely kept by Qemali's eldest son, Et’hem bey Vlora. The burial ceremony took place on Wednesday, February 12, 1919. The flag was later suspended outside the customs building of the municipality of Vlorë until it was submitted to the National Museum.

A state archive document from Year 1936, Fund 195, File 62 describes the flag as follows: ^[47]

"Customs flag" of Vlora
With the letter of the Ministry of Education Nr.1208 of the 6th of Autumn 1933, a flag treated with two strands of woolen cloth, 1.45 m long and 0.95 m wide, with a vulture with two heads and with wings spread upwards, without fringes and without a tie, was handed over to the National Museum.

A letter from 1934, which the National History Museum addressed to the Ministry of Education, where, among other things, it was said that "they had safeguarded a silk flag with gold fringes and a red tie, which was handed over to us by the Ministry of Education on 30 December 1932. The records we have on it say that this flag was unfurled in Vlora, the day the city was liberated from the invading foreign army." This letter can be found at the Ministry of Education archive (A.SH. Fund 295. File 1. Year 1934.) and is written as follows: ^[48]

Donated: a silk flag (red with a black vulture) with gold fringes, with a red tie and this one likewise with gold fringes. This flag was raised in Vlora after the city was freed by foreign armies in 1920.

KËT FLAMU E KAM VJEDH KUR U MARTU Zogu NË PTT

English translation: I stole this flag when King Zog got married in PTT (local office of Post-Telegraphs-Telephones)

The Albanian flag was among those included thanks to the initiative of Wilson Kokalari, one of the top NASA engineers at the time, of Albanian origin from Gjirokastër. After completing the mission, the flags were handed out in a public auction. The flag in question, has an inscription of the astronaut Alfred Worden, including his signature with the following text: "Flown to the Moon on Apollo 15 Al Worden CMP". 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. Yellow fringes hang on the sides. 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 16

Decorations 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. The crescent was likely used as a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, of which Albania was still a part of. In explaining the spelling changes in Latin, the Romanian letter "ș" is used, which is pronounced as "sh" in Albanian. ^[55]

СOQERIA E CQIПETAREVET

“DECIRE”

FlɅUAR ME 1 KOɅOZEG 1893

NE SOFJE.

On the sides hang yellow, heavy fringes, which, like the letters and the two upper tassels, are considered golden. The darkening that the letters have undergone over the years may indicate a metal of low quality. The flag stays taut in any hanging position and weighs 1.5 kg. Its unveiling took place on August 28, 1904. ^[56]

Produced in 1918, the symbolic flag is of average dimensions, 101 by 66 cm. On the red background of the silk fabric is printed the following:

BANDA KOMBETARE VATRA

DHURATE NGA SHOQERIA DRENOVARE BASHKIMI

1918

A real lace material made of yellow metallic yarn that mimics gold, surrounds the entire flag. The small, round temples sparkle in the lace mesh, giving it an appealing look. On the bottom, hang long, spiral fringes of metal thread. 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. For centuries, pure gold was no longer used in embroidery, not even in royal clothing. ^[57]

The flag used by the society is 156 cm long and 90 cm wide. Two very high quality silk fabrics are sewn on top of each other. Small red and black tassels hang on the edges, four of which located in all corners are larger in size. In the center is painted with tempera a dark gray patterned eagle and below it the following text:

RROFT SHQIPNIA
GUSHT 1919

The eagle is different from that of the official flag since at the time there were no laws to define the shape of the national symbols. We notice that in this flag there is no place to insert a spear, nor a rope. Was it meant to be hung on a wall or perhaps used as a banner of manifestation?

The flag is currently preserved at the ethnographic fund of the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Art Studies and owing to laboratory interventions once made, it is in good condition although the tempera paint with which the eagle and the writing are made has long since cracked and splintered. ^[58]

The red flag is distinguished by the black double-headed eagle while the gold star, sumptuously adorned by most flags of that era, has been purposely removed, as to evoke an anti-communist sentiment. The overstretched eagle appears spontaneous, with its elongated heads and inflated claws. This flag was widely used during public demonstrations and other commemorative events organized by the diaspora community in the country. ^[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. With that cry on my lips, in the shade, with this flag, let us all unite..."

The double-headed eagle in Aladro's flag is later seen in a publication of the nationally syndicated Minerva Magazine, Issue 004–005, Page 26, Year 1932.

Remembrance for the day of freedom when the Flag was raised in Vlorë 28 November 1912

Both flags attached to the same pole were described in unison: ^[63]

Under the shadow of this flag, a symbol of brotherhood and unity, the peoples of the Balkans will find freedom, happiness and honor.
The future flag of Albania in the framework of the Balkan Confederation – Paris 1929

At that moment, above the night sky of Belgrade, a waving flag hanging from a drone slowly approached the playing field. The flag in a black background, showed a map covered by a variation of the Albanian national flag, encompassing territories beyond Albania's present borders, alongside the portraits of Ismail Qemali and Isa Boletini with the inscription “AUTOCHTHONOUS”. ^[64] The map resembles to some degree Nikolla Lako's 1913 ethnographic map of Albania, obtained by the American Geographical Society in 1921. 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).

The flag design is modelled on the national flag and features a blue crowned coat of arms with a molossian hound in a jumping posture. ^[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. ^[67]

Awarded the Hero of the People title, Boletini was a prominent figure in the movement for an independent Albania. 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. ^[68]

The top symbol of the flag used by the committee, a pentas flower shaped star, can be seen in a 1916 photograph of a banner hanging at a children's school in Gjakovë which indicates that it was a commonly used symbol in this region. ^[69]

The flag, measuring 1 x 1.5 m in length, is presented in a deep blue color background which symbolizes peace. In the center, is displayed a circular seal consisting of the double-headed black eagle, the national symbol of the Albanian population of Kosovo. The red background within the seal, outlined by a golden stripe, exemplifies power. The shield itself epitomizes the royal character 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 red and black fields represent the colors of the national flag. The white banner hovering in front of the shield illustrates the white color of the plis and that of traditional clothing. The banner reads DARDANIA, the ancient name of Kosovo. The golden hexagram above the eagle is borrowed from the flag of Skanderbeg. Today, the flag is officially used by the President of Kosovo. ^[71]

The emblem in the flag of the Kosovo Liberation Army was created by Adnan Asllani, a graphic artist, activist and member of the People's Movement of Kosovo (LPK), from the village of Strezoc, present day Presevo. 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 red represents the color of blood and that of the national flag. The yellow, which radiates like gold, symbolizes the sun and light, whereby the KLA soldiers would bring to the lands they fought to defend.

The emblem was subsequently adapted as a symbol during the conflicts in Presevo and Macedonia. ^[72]