An exceptionally scarce and highly desirable example of the iconic 1926 Colt Firearms promotional campaign poster, featuring the celebrated artwork titled "Tex and Patches" by legendary Western illustrator Frank E. Schoonover. This piece represents the coveted, earliest English-language variant printed on heavy, canvas-textured paper. Characterized by its clean, sophisticated layout, this first-run variant omits the massive block "COLT" header graphic found on later reissues and tin reproductions, presenting only the crisp factory text line centered along the bottom margin.

The imagery depicts a stark, beautifully rendered scene of a lone frontier lawman looking out across a sprawling desert canyon basin from the saddle of his favorite paint horse. This example is particularly notable for remaining in its original, unmodified factory format, completely retaining both of its original tin/metal binding strips crimped onto the top and bottom margins—a feature routinely lost when these posters were trimmed for traditional framing.

Very Good overall. The lithograph retains excellent color density and registration with crisp, unfaded pigments across the desert sky and landscape. Displays expected, light uniform age-toning and minor handling creases consistent with age. There is minor, isolated paper/edge loss restricted to the upper left-hand corner, entirely stable and well away from the central image, artist signature, and manufacturer text line. Currently housed for protection and stability, shrink-wrapped to a foam core board backing. An investment-grade survivor of early 20th-century firearms advertising.

Dimensions: 19.5" x 33"