Anonymous
1929

Map of the University Pool oilfield in Pecos County, Texas

University Pool. Pecos County.

DESCRIPTION: Large anonymous oilfield cadastral map of the University Pool oilfield in Pecos County, Texas ca. 1929. An unintentional found work of abstract art- a 38" x 30" blueline map with hand color of leased tracts by pencil with similar ownership designated by coloring.

Across the center of entire map are simply the words: "State University Land."

Numerous lessees are noted on the map with many large and small oil companies including:

Tower & McKanna
Dixie
Shell
Humble
Tidal
Transcontinental
Tay-Link
California
W.R. Jones

Large manuscript crayon filing notation on the verso reads "Rowan-Tong Area, Pecos County."

The illustration and quotation on this trade card were not unique to John Cosgrove but rather part of a stock design widely used by 19th-century printers who specialized in producing humorous or sentimental advertising cards. Lithographers commonly kept catalogs of ready-made comic scenes—like this seaside mother-and-child vignette with the line “It’s a wise child that knows its own mother at the sea side”—which merchants could customize by adding their own business imprint below. In this case, the printer simply inserted Cosgrove’s name, trade description, and Poydras Market address into the blank advertising panel at the bottom, allowing a small New Orleans fish dealer to benefit from professionally printed imagery at a fraction of the cost of commissioning original artwork.

CREATOR: Anonymous

PUBLICATION DATE: 1929

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: N/A

CONDITION: Very Good Clean with appropriate uniform light age-toning. One 2" tear and one fold separation repaired archivally from the verso. Shows very well.

COLORING: Hand color by pencil.

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 38 " x 30 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 300

PRICE: $250

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