1971 Conoco Oil Annual Report

     Walter DuBois Richards's illustrations can be found in pamphlets, brochures, programs, and in this case an Annual Report for the petroleum giant Continental Oil Company in 1971.

     Wally produced five wonderful watercolors for the 1971 report.

  
    Wally did a considerable amount of commercial art for Conoco over several decades.  It is possible that the marketing director at Conoco was familiar with Walter's work and may have asked him to do this series for the Annual Report.    

     When this annual report came out, Conoco was expanding rapidly into a global force with over $2.3 billion in assets.

     Conoco seems to be stressing they are an environmentally-conscience company, which I can neither confirm nor deny.  One thing is clear, these are beautiful watercolors by Walter D. Richards.

Walter DuBois Richards' 22nd Stamp: Massachusetts State House In Boston

     For personal reasons, The State House in Boston is one of my favorite buildings that Walter DuBois Richards had decided to profile for his American Architecture Series.  It was completed 1798 and designed by the father of Federalist architecture, Charles Bulfinch.  He was also a principal architect of the Capital Building in Washington, D.C.  It's interesting that Wally decided to portray the pre-WWI State House design, excluding the two white wings that are now part of the modern State House.     

     The first day of Issue was launched in Kansas City, Missouri, of all places, on June 4, 1979.  Each stamp in the block of four stamps sold for $.15.  Wally had just completed his 20th thru 23rd stamps at the young age of 72.  His foray into producing a small mountain of 36 stamps in 15 years (when you exclude the Post Card in 1987, his 37th 'stamp') seemed an appropriate way to finish his rather illustrious career as an American artist.  

     It was nice of him to send me this first day of issue stamp with a short note, considering I was just 26 months old.  I am glad he did and fortunately it has survived the years, and now I may give it to my children when they're ready.  Someday they may get a kick out of it, or perhaps collect stamps themselves. 

Thanks Grandpa!