The flag of Rio de Janeiro State, is divided quarterly between white and blue-celeste, with the white in the upper hoist and lower fly, and the state coat of arms on the center.
On 23 July 1975, the new constitution of the State of Rio de Janeiro established that the flag and the shield of the new state (which was absorbing Guanabara) would be the same that those of the ancient state. The blue and white are the traditional colors of Portugal.
The current flag law is from 1965 and makes no mention of any earlier state flag. However, Whitney Smith said the flag was adopted in 1947.
A set of cards distributed with bars of Eucalol soap in the 1930s shows Rio de Janeiro state with the same flag as that used today except that the style of the coat of arms is consistent with its appearance in the 1920s and 1930s. Obviously this flag dates from before the reported adoption date of 1947, at least de facto. It is possible that 1947 was when it was readopted following the 1937-46 period in which state flags were legally banned.
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