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Above: The artists signature

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A wonderfully inventive and unique early space-age (dated 1955) gouache calendar illustration by Bill Layne for the Royal 76 Gas Station chain. Showing the companies inventive and modernist machine age state of the art service station facilities. Uniquely embellished by the artist with his familiar elf figures and space exploration themes. Banner flag reads “Tickets Here For Cosmic Ray Absorber.” This is a tremendous futuristic work that should find traction among Petroliana collectors and space-age/atomic age lovers.

Above: A mid-1950’s view of a Royal 76 Service Station

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The type of scene only Bill Layne could envision and execute. The whimsical charm predicts Layne’s later career in the animation department for Walt Disney feature films. We expect Bill Layne to become a wildly collected and important artist in years to come.

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Above: Framed and matted view

Bill Layne was a prolific and influential Walt Disney Studio’s commercial illustrator who also created hundreds of commissioned images for the Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company and was one of their last true stars. A unique talent that is just starting to fine traction among today’s forward looking collectors and dealers.

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Above: Verso notation

Above: Verso view designatinf it as published calendar art

Above: Before framing

Above: Frame detail