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

Image Date Range: 1940s

Image Size: 11-3/4″ x  16-3/8″    Textured Paper

Image Description: “Bears come around for Lunch”

These sampler prints were produced as sales and presentation pieces, used by traveling representatives and retailers to preview artwork intended for nationwide calendar distribution. Unlike standard calendar pages, sampler prints were designed to showcase image quality, paper stock, and printing craftsmanship, making them scarcer than mass-issued calendars.

Printed on distinctive linen-textured paper prized in the 1930s–1940s for its durability and refined appearance, this piece reflects the high production standards that made Murphy calendars a cornerstone of American advertising art.