Showing barely any signs of age, wear and handling. No cracking, lifting or any other major issues to note. Eye-catching bold typeface / font and art. Colors are vibrant. Overall, in good to very good condition. Will display well in your collection. You will receive the exact sheet shown in the photos. The decal card measures approx. 3" x 4 1/2"

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## Historic Virginia City, Montana – Fairweather Inn – Colorful Automobile Window Decal Signed Art Brown – Original Application Instructions – Circa 1955–1965 An attractive, multicolored vintage waterslide decal advertising **Historic Virginia City, Montana**, featuring a detailed illustration of the historic **Fairweather Inn**, signed by artist **Art Brown**. Accompanied by its original printed application instructions and translucent protective wrapper, the decal was intended primarily for automobile windows, although the manufacturer also provided directions for applying it to luggage and other smooth surfaces. The colorful design features a brilliant yellow background with large black lettering reading "Historic Virginia City, Montana," accented by decorative red ribbon banners. The central illustration depicts the Fairweather Inn, a substantial two-story frontier-style wooden building with a broad second-floor balcony, surrounded by figures in nineteenth-century clothing. In the foreground, a horse-drawn wagon and team of horses evoke the transportation and everyday commercial activity of Montana's territorial period. The illustration is rendered primarily in detailed black linework, with vivid red-orange coloring for the street, horses, and decorative elements, complemented by touches of green and yellow. The artwork is signed **"Art Brown"** at the lower left, identifying the illustrator responsible for this attractive interpretation of Virginia City's historic architecture and frontier atmosphere. Historical Background – Virginia City and the Fairweather Inn Virginia City was established in 1863 following the discovery of gold in nearby Alder Gulch, one of the richest placer gold discoveries in the American West. The settlement quickly developed into a bustling mining community and served as the capital of Montana Territory from 1865 until 1875, when the capital was relocated to Helena. At its height, Virginia City was an important commercial and political center, attracting merchants, miners, freighters, and entrepreneurs from throughout the West. Although mining activity eventually declined, the community retained much of its nineteenth-century architectural character. During the mid-twentieth century, preservation and restoration efforts helped transform Virginia City into a popular heritage-tourism destination. Historic hotels, saloons, commercial buildings, and stagecoach attractions offered visitors an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of Montana's territorial gold-rush era. The **Fairweather Inn** takes its name from **William Fairweather**, one of the prospectors credited with the discovery of gold in Alder Gulch in 1863. The inn's historic appearance and association with the community's gold-rush heritage made it a particularly suitable subject for Montana tourist souvenirs. Manufacturer – Lindgren Brothers, Spokane, Washington The accompanying original instruction sheet identifies the manufacturer as **Lindgren Brothers, W. 902 Broadway, Spokane 11, Washington**. Established in Spokane in 1928 by brothers Jolly and Oscar Lindgren, the company became a prominent producer of illustrated tourist souvenirs, novelty maps, decorative decals, and related promotional merchandise. Its products were distributed through gift shops, roadside attractions, national parks, and tourist destinations throughout the United States. Lindgren Brothers became especially associated with colorful waterslide decals during the mid-twentieth century, when automobile travel and the expanding American highway system created a substantial market for inexpensive souvenirs commemorating vacation destinations. The company was particularly successful in producing regional designs featuring scenic attractions, historic landmarks, and distinctive local subjects. These decals were frequently displayed on automobile windows, luggage, and other personal belongings as colorful reminders of places visited. The accompanying translucent protective wrapper retains its original printed application instructions, an appealing survival that helps identify the manufacturer and illustrates how these souvenirs were intended to be used. The directions specify soaking the decal in water for approximately 30 seconds before transferring it to glass or another suitable surface. Instructions are also provided for application to hard-finish luggage and opaque surfaces. The manufacturer cautions against applying the decal in freezing conditions or placing it on an automobile windshield where it might interfere with the driver's vision. Dating – Circa 1955–1965 **An estimated production date of circa 1955–1965 is reasonable**, with the 1950s and early 1960s particularly plausible. The dating is supported by the decal's colorful mid-century graphic design, its waterslide application format, the manufacturer's Spokane postal-zone address, and the popularity of automobile-window travel decals during the postwar period. The use of the postal designation **"Spokane 11, Wash."** is consistent with the postal-zone system introduced in 1943 and widely used until the adoption of ZIP Codes in 1963, although older address formats sometimes remained in use afterward. The Lindgren Brothers name also deserves consideration. The business became associated with the Lindgren-Turner name in 1949, although the continued use of existing trade names and printed packaging makes the manufacturer's identification alone insufficient to establish a precise date. The artwork is signed **Art Brown**, but no definite date appears alongside the signature. Format and Condition - The decal is printed in multiple bright colors on a white backing sheet and retains its original folded translucent instruction wrapper, printed in dark red and black ink. The illustrated decal appears unused, with strong, attractive colors and well-defined details. The accompanying instruction wrapper exhibits its original folds, irregularly cut edges, and some age-related handling characteristics. The combination of the historic Fairweather Inn subject, Art Brown's signed illustration, original Lindgren Brothers packaging, and colorful mid-century graphics makes this an appealing surviving example of Montana tourism advertising and American automobile souvenir culture from the 1950s–1960s. Condense this into listing-ready proseCombine overlapping manufacturer paragraphs

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