Vintage Salesman Sampler Print published by Thos. D. Murphy Co. of Red Oak, Iowa — pioneers of the American art calendar industry.

Image Date Range: 1910 to 1918

Image Size: 10″ x  14″

Paper: Early made wood-pulp paper

Description: “Land of Sky Blue Waters” by Alfred James

Early Murphy sampler print reproducing an oil painting by Alfred James titled “Land of Sky Blue Waters.” This outdoor scene depicts two men enjoying the feast of the days catch over an open campfire under a starry sky.

This piece was produced as a salesman sampler, created for traveling representatives and retailers to preview artwork and print quality for upcoming calendar lines. Unlike standard calendar pages, sampler prints were not mass-distributed to the public and were made in smaller quantities, making them scarcer today.

Printed on smooth, hard-calendered machine-made wood-pulp paper characteristic of early 20th-century calendar production, this stock was favored for its even surface and clarity of reproduction prior to the widespread adoption of linen-textured paper. The paper and printing reflect the high production standards that defined Murphy’s early calendar output.