THE GREATEST ART OF THE AMERICAN WEST

The art of the American West is unique in all the world. For it was born of adventure. And nourished by the talents of some of America’s most gifted artists.

From the middle of the last century, and well into our own, these artists of the Old West created a priceless treasury of works as vast and imposing as the land they loved. Works based on unflinching honesty, courage and self-reliance. Today, their art still communicates-with undi-minished power-a way of life that has long since vanished.

Now, in tribute to this distinctively American art tradition, the 50 greatest masterpieces of the Old West will be brought together in unique fashion-as finely minted art medals of 24 karat gold electroplate on bronze. These will be the first gold on bronze medals ever issued by The Franklin Mint. Sculptured in rich and exciting detail, they will form a truly extraordinary collection of The Greatest Art of the American West.

A most comprehensive collection

This historic collection will consist of 50 medals -each capturing the essence of a great masterpiece of Western art.

Furthermore, this will be the most comprehensive collection of fine art medals ever to honor the great artists of the Old West. It will include the work of every outstanding artist of the era -from George Catlin and Alfred Jacob Miller to Frederic Remington and Charles Marion Russell -selected with the aid of an independent panel of eminent authorities on Western art. Thus, in future years, it may well come to be regarded as the most important collection of its kind.

Large medals reveal superb detail

To capture the sweep and power of each work honored in this collection, the medals will be unusually large, each measuring a full two inches in diameter. And each medal will be of exceptional thickness-allowing for the great depth of the sculptured relief.

Holding one of these heavy gold on bronze medals-and examining its richly sculptured surface-you will find a fascinating interplay of light and shadow adding to the visual excitement of the work. Thus, the charging horses in Frederic Remington’s Dismounted: 4th Cavalry Moving actually seem to leap out at the viewer. And the elaborate trappings of the young warrior in George Catlin’s Indian Boy stand out in fascinating detail-the string of his bow, the arrows in his quiver . . . even the intricate border designs on his shirt.

In Charles Marion Russell’s Camp Cook’s Troubles, you share one of the unexpected surprises of a cowboy’s life on the trail-as chuck-wagon utensils are sent flying by the hooves of a bucking bronco. You feel the tension in the air as the flinty-eyed lawman in E. C. Ward’s Enter the Law rides down the main street of a frontier town. See the hope and determination written on the faces of westward-bound pioneers in George Caleb Bingham’s The Emigration of Daniel Boone.

Fifty masterpieces-encompassing all the great names and great themes of Western art-captured forever in 24 karat gold on bronze.



Proof medals of exceptionally high relief

Each of these medals will be a beautiful Franklin Mint Proof-but a Proof of exceptionally high relief. Each will be struck from hand-polished dies, so that its deeply sculptured design stands in bold contrast to the brilliantly polished mirror-like background.

This Proof Edition will be the only edition of this important new collection that will ever be issued. It will be minted exclusively for subscribers. There is a limit of one subscription per person, and subscriptions will be accepted only until April 30, 1978. Thus, the edition will be strictly limited. When all subscribers have received their medals, the coining dies will be destroyed-assuring that the collection can never be issued again.

The beauty of gold at a reasonable price

These magnificent gold on bronze medals will be issued at the rate of one per month. The issue price for each 24 karat gold on bronze Proof is just $19.50. This original issue price-a very favorable price for finely sculptured medals of such artistic excellence-will be guaranteed to you for the entire series.

A handsome collector’s album-specially designed to protect and display all 50 medals in the collection-will be provided to each subscriber at no additional charge. And each medal in the collection will be accompanied by an informative history of the work portrayed.

A collection to delight the entire family

To bring such enduring works of art into your home is to possess a collection of American art treasures that will delight every member of your family. A collection that is especially rewarding for its compelling themes, its fascinating realism, and the timeless importance of the great works it portrays. A collection whose beauty will remain undimmed-equally inspiring to future generations.

To acquire The Greatest Art of the American West, you must mail the application below by the subscription deadline of April 30, 1978. Applications bearing any later postmarks will be declined.



The Board of Advisers for The Greatest Art of the American West



PAUL A. ROSSI

Historian, lecturer, artist, noted art consultant and appraiser; former Director of the Thomas Gilcrease Institute.

HAROLD McCRACKEN

Widely published author and Western art historian, former Director of the Whitney Gallery of Western Art.

ROYAL HASSRICK

Commissioner of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, United States Department of the Interior; distinguished author and former Curator of Western Art at the Denver Art Museum.

HELMUTH FUCHS, PH.D.

Curator, Ethnology Department, for the Paul Kane Collection of Western Art at the Royal Ontario Museum.