Featured Oil/Gas Ads
This category is for your neighborhood service stations for companies like Texaco, Esso, and Chevron.
1956 full-page ad for the American Petroleum Institute with art by Douglass Crockwell
$8.00
Large (10 ¼ by 14) 1956 full-page American Petroleum Institute ad with artwork by Douglass Crockwell
Title- “Understand Rivalry and you understand America”- the ad shows a couple of rural types playing checkers inside a general store.
The artwork is by Douglass Crockwell (1904-1968) who had a knack for getting the kind of assignments that were Norman Rockwellesque. His name was even similar to Rockwell's; too much, Crockwell thought, so he'd sign his name to hide the rhyming similarity: "Douglass," "DC," or simply "D." Crockwell was one of the most popular artists of the 1940s and 50s. Few artists became linked to so many ad campaigns such as Welch's Grape Juice, Republic Steel, GE, and Friskies. For more information on Douglass Crockwell click here.
History- (from Wikipedia) The American Petroleum Institute traces its beginning to World War I, when Congress and the domestic oil and natural gas industry worked together to help the war effort. After the war, momentum began to build to form a national association that could represent the entire industry in the postwar years. The industry’s efforts to
supply fuel during World War I not only highlighted the importance of the industry to the country.
Headquartered in New York City the American Petroleum Institute was established on March 20, 1919, to improve cooperation with government, increase foreign and domestic trade in American petroleum products and to promote in general the interests of the petroleum industry in all its branches.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
1949 full-page ad for Ethyl Corporation
Large (13 ½ x 10 ½ ) 1949 full page color ad for Ethyl Corporation
Title- “Trade-Marks of Nature”- the ad shows a variety of dog breeds and an Ethyl gas pump.
History- (from Wikipedia) Founded in 1923 Ethyl Corp was formed by General Motors and Standard Oil of New Jersey (ESSO). General Motors had the "use patent" for tetraethyllead, an antiknock additive known as TEL, and ESSO had the patent for the manufacture of TEL. Since the patents affected the marketing of TEL, General Motors and ESSO formed Ethyl Corp., each parent company had a 50% stake in the new corporation. Since neither company had chemical plant experience, they hired Dupont to operate the manufacturing facilities. After patents ran out, Dupont started manufacture of TEL on their own and Ethyl started running its own operations
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
$6.00
$5.00
1947 full-page ad for Macmillan Oil
1947 full-page magazine ad for Macmillan Oil (10 x 13)
Title - “Lady..Keep this under your bonnet!”- the ad shows a leggy dame talking to a gas station attendant.
History- (from Wikipedia) Macmillan Oil operated primarily in the south and west of the United States. The company is credited with developing the first composite can in the 1940s due to the lack of metal during the war. The company’s head office was in Long Beach, California.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
$5.00
1946 vintage 2-page magazine ad for Mobil Oil
1946 vintage 2-page magazine ad for Mobil Oil
Title - “Avoid Winter Slip Ups. Winterproof Now”- this ad shows four samples of what can be done to prepare a car for winter driving.
History- (from Wikipedia) The Standard Oil Company of New York, or Socony, was founded. In 1920 with the registered name of "Mobiloil" as a trademark. In 1931, Socony merged with Vacuum Oil to form Socony-Vacuum. The Mobil symbol of the winged red horse, Pegasus, has been a company trademark since its affiliation with Magnolia Petroleum Company in the 1930s.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition with staple holes in the middle. The ad is the center spread of a magazine and measures about 20 ½ by 14.
$8.00
1953 vintage 2-page magazine ad for Mobil Oil
$10.00
1953 vintage 2-page magazine ad for Mobil Oil
Title - “The Oil That Helped the First Plane Fly”- this ad shows several examples of how Mobil has played a part in many transportation accomplishments including the flight of the Wright brothers. Artwork is by Stanley Ekman. You can see more samples of Ekman’s work on this FaceBook page.
History- (from Wikipedia) The Standard Oil Company of New York, or Socony, was founded. In 1920 with the registered name of "Mobiloil" as a trademark. In 1931, Socony merged with Vacuum Oil to form Socony-Vacuum. The Mobil symbol of the winged red horse, Pegasus, has been a company trademark since its affiliation with Magnolia Petroleum Company in the 1930s.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition with some slight roughness on the left edge and staple holes in the middle. The ad is the center spread of a magazine and measures about 20 ½ by 13 ½).
1947 full-page ad for Phillips Petroleum
$5.00
1947 full-page magazine ad for Phillips Petroleum (10 x 13)
Title - “Lay that kindlin’ down, Bub!” the ad, illustrated by John Vickery, shows a young boy carrying a load of kindling into a country kitchen. John Vickery was an Australian artist who, after studying at the National Gallery School before WWII, left Australia to live the life of the young and curious artist, moving first to London and then ultimately to New York. In New York he became a successful illustrator and painter, being the only Australian artist to be part of the New York School, friendly with Guston, de Kooning, Pollock and Joan Mitchell during the 1950s. Vickery died in 1983.
History- (from Wikipedia) Phillips Petroleum Co. was an American oil company incorporated in 1917 that expanded into petroleum refining, marketing and transportation, natural gas gathering and the chemicals sectors.
Incorporated in 1917 by brothers Lee Eldas "L.E." and Frank Phillips, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Phillips Petroleum rapidly became a fully integrated oil company that included oil and gas production, crude oil pipelines and refineries,
and marketing of petroleum products. By 1925, it was the largest producer of natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. In 1927, Phillips started up its first petroleum refinery in Borger, Texas, designed to produce gasoline as an automotive fuel. It opened its first service station, to sell gasoline, in Wichita, Kansas in 1927. In 1930, the company developed its trademark, which was derived from the number 66 superimposed on the U.S. Highway symbol for Route 66.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition. The ad is sold untrimmed and not matted.
1947 full-page ad for Shell Oil
$8.00
Large (10 1/4 x 13 ¾ ) 1947 full-page, color print ad for Shell Motor Oil
Title- “Greased Lightning” the ad shows a power line transformer and explains how oil helps the transfomer do its job.
History- (from Wikipedia) - Royal Dutch Shell, commonly known as Shell, an Anglo–Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, is the second largest company in the world in terms of revenue.
It has operations in over 90 countries, produces around 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and has 44,000 service stations worldwide. Shell Oil Company, its subsidiary in the United States, is one of its largest businesses.
The Shell logo is one of the most familiar commercial symbols in the world. This logo is known as the "pecten" after the sea shell Pecten maximus (the giant scallop), on which its design is based.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition and is sold untrimmed and not matted.
1952 full-page ad for Shell Oil
$6.00
Large (10 ¼ x 14 ) 1952 full-page, color print ad for Shell x-100 Motor Oil
Title- “Stops destructive Acid Action caused by cold-to-hot engine operation.” the ad shows a wristwatch that was lubricated with Shell X-100 motor oil in a block of ice and in a baked potato.
History- (from Wikipedia) - Royal Dutch Shell, commonly known as Shell, an Anglo–Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, is the second largest company in the world in terms of revenue.
It has operations in over 90 countries, produces around 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and has 44,000 service stations worldwide. Shell Oil Company, its subsidiary in the United States, is one of its largest businesses.
The Shell logo is one of the most familiar commercial symbols in the world. This logo is known as the "pecten" after the sea shell Pecten maximus (the giant scallop), on which its design is based.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition. The ad is sold untrimmed and not matted.
1952 full-page ad for Shell Oil
Large (10 ¼ x 14 ¼) 1952 full-page, color print ad for Shell x-100 Motor Oil
Title- “Your engine makes this much acid every day…”- the ad shows a multi-colored gremlin holding a beaker of acid.
History- (from Wikipedia) - Royal Dutch Shell, commonly known as Shell, an Anglo–Dutch multinational oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, is the second largest company in the world in terms of revenue.
It has operations in over 90 countries, produces around 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and has 44,000 service stations worldwide. Shell Oil Company, its subsidiary in the United States, is one of its largest businesses.
The Shell logo is one of the most familiar commercial symbols in the world. This logo is known as the "pecten" after the sea shell Pecten maximus (the giant scallop), on which its design is based.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition. The ad is sold untrimmed and not matted.
$6.00
1943 wartime ad for Texaco
1943 full-page (10 ½ x 13 ¼ ) marvelous wartime print ad for Texaco
Title- “Report to the Emperor” – This marvelous ad is a wonderful bit of wartime propaganda without the racism and ranting that often mars ads of this period. The artwork is amazingly clean and effective showing an officer (Tojo, I think) bowing to the Emperor.
The copy deserves an award for understatement.
“Sacred One, Son of Heaven.
“I report a great change in the temper of our American enemies.
“Our ruthlessness has only made them more angry—more aroused.
“Their soldiers fight with redoubled fury.
“Their people work harder—and sacrifice more.
“Sublime Majesty, we fight a determined foe. Remind us again that we are unconquerable.”
The ad goes on to encourage Americans to support the war effort- “Don’t think it doesn’t bother them to see us buying war bonds; to watch us conserve clothes, food and gasoline.”
$15.00
History- (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
1943 ad for Texaco
Large 1946 full page ad for Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline
Title- “You’re looking at trouble!” – The ad shows a car with a smoking exhaust and the close up of a concerned woman driver in the rear-view mirror. This would be a special concern during wartime when gas was rationed.
History- (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition and measures 10 ½ x 13 ½ .
$7.00
1946 ad for Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline
Large 1946 full page ad for Texaco Fire Chief Gasoline
Title- “Purrr-fect Performance!”- the ad shows a kitten riding on a fast moving fire chief’s helmet.
History- (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition and measures 10 ¼ x 14.
$7.00
1948 ad for Texaco Sky Chief
Large (13 ½ x 10 ½) 1948 full page ad, Texaco Sky Chief Gasoline
Title- “Top Performance…get it in your car, with Texaco Sky Chief!”- the ad shows a polo player.
History- (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
$8.00
1949 ad for Texaco Havoline, Rhino
Large (13 ½ x 10 ½) 1949 full page ad, Texaco Havoline Motor Oil
Title- “Get the thrill of full power with a clean engine”- the ad shows the silhouette of a rhinoceros.
History- (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
$7.00
1949 ad for Texaco Havoline, Deer
Large (13 ½ x 10 ½) 1949 full page ad, Texaco Sky Chief Gasoline
Title- “There's new pace in your motoring with Texaco Sky chief Gasoline!”- the ad shows the silhouette of a deer.
History- (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition.
$7.00
1954 Texaco Havoline Ad- Diver
1954 full page (10 ¼ x 13 ¼ ) color ad for Texaco Service
Titled - “A Star is Made, not Born”- ad shows a diver in mid-air.
History - (from Wikipedia) Texaco (the name stands for Texas Company) is the name of an American oil retail brand. Texaco was an independent company until it merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. It began as the Texas Fuel Company, founded in 1901 in Beaumont, Texas. Its logo features a star in a circle (a reference to the lone star of Texas).
Condition- This ad is in acceptable condition with light creasing and a piece missing from the upper left corner.
$4.00
1957 ad for White Rose Gasoline
Large 1957 large magazine ad for White Rose Gasoline
Titled- “All Canadian”- this ad shows a painting titled Prairie Village by Kenneth Lochhead. The painting is part of a series of Canadian scenes commissioned by Canadian Oil companies, Ltd.
History- In 1938 the Canadian Oil Company became independent from the National Refining Company of Cleveland when it was sold to Nesbitt, Thomson & Co., of Montreal. A competition was held for the design of a White Rose logo depicting the actual flower. The winner was Bill Templeton, an artist employed with the advertising firm of E.L. Ruddy of Toronto. In the early sixties, the story of White Rose ended as it was bought out by the expanding Shell Oil Company of Canada, and by the mid-sixties the once familiar White Rose, faded from the highways of Canada.
Condition- This ad is in excellent condition with small press punched near the left edge.
$9.00
More Oil and Gas Ads
Conoco
Year - 1950
Title - Pig Boats
Size - 10 ¼ x 13 ½
Cond. - Ex
Price - $6
Click to enlarge
Conoco
Year - 1953
Title - Good Sign
Size - 10 ¼ x 13½
Cond. - Ex
Price - $6
Click to enlarge
Mobil Oil
Year - 1958
Title - Young Feeling
Size - 10 ½ x 13 ½
Cond. - Ex
Price - $7
Click to enlarge
RPM Delo Oil
Year - 1948
Title - North Coast Limited
Size - 10 ¼ x 14
Cond. - Ex
Price - $5
Click to enlarge
RPM Delo Oil
Year - 1950
Title - Greyhound Bus
Size - 10 ¼ x 13 ½
Cond. - Ex
Price - $5
Click to enlarge
Shell Oil
Year - 1946
Title - Gone are the days
Size - 10 ¼ x 14
Cond. - Ex
Price - $5
Click to enlarge
Shell Oil
Year - 1953
Title - Acid Action
Size - 10 ¼ x 14
Cond. - Ex
Price - $6
Click to enlarge
Texaco Havoline
Year - 1941
Title - Smoke means trouble
Size - 10 ¼ x 14
Cond. - Ex
Price - $7
Click to enlarge
Texaco Havoline
Year - 1947
Title - Top Performance
Size - 10 x 14
Cond. - Ex
Price - $7
Click to enlarge
Texaco Anti-Freeze
Year - 1953
Title - Play Safe
Size - 10 x 14
Cond. - Ex
Price - $7
Click to enlarge
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