Cowpoke Covers

Our cover artists saddle up to capture the elusive cowpoke of the Wild West.

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Our cover artists saddle up to capture the elusive cowpoke of the Wild West. Whether you played rodeo as a child or are a real-life bronco rider, this week’s cover collection is sure to please.

Boy on Horse — John Clymer
A good cowboy is a resourceful cowboy. And a good horse knows when to stand still.
John Clymer July 30, 1949
John Clymer
July 30, 1949


Woman at Dude Ranch — Fred Ludekens
Saddle up, partner! This cowgirl looks like she can hold her own.
Fred Ludekens June 20, 1942
Fred Ludekens
June 20, 1942


Playing Cowboy — Amos Sewell
These three little gunslingers may be the fastest hands in the neighborhood, but any make-believe cowboy worth his weight in cap guns knows that true grit is determined by how long you can play dead without opening an eye.
Amos Sewell March 11, 1950
Amos Sewell
March 11, 1950


Gary Cooper as ‘The Texan’ — Norman Rockwell
Lights, camera, action! To play a cowboy, not only is it important to act the part, you have to look it, too. Bring on the lipstick.
Norman Rockwell May 24, 1930
Norman Rockwell
May 24, 1930


Spring Styles — Tom Webb
Who doesn’t adore a good old-fashioned cowboy? Clearly, this cowpoke knows his duds will never go out of style.
Tom Webb March 25, 1922
Tom Webb
March 25, 1922


Workhorse — Leslie Thrasher
Working hard or hardly working? Judging by that pool of water and the boy’s flushed face, we’re going with the former.
Leslie Thrasher September 6, 1913
Leslie Thrasher
September 6, 1913


Little Cowboy Takes a Licking — J.C. Leyendecker
That little cowboy must taste as sweet as he looks — prior to the tears, of course.
J.C. Leyendecker August 20, 1938
J.C. Leyendecker
August 20, 1938

ck out the September/October 2015 issue for a look at works of Howard Terpning, one of the today’s masters of Western art.

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Comments

  1. Great covers. Loved the Gary Cooper one, I wonder how he felt about the cover showing him getting lipstick applied. Besides the covers, I enjoy reading the notes on stories inside. The one about the unsung hero behind the bible of baseball, he is still unsung since they didn’t mention who he was. The story about the White Sox coming back from the dead was in March 1950, another bad season for them. But the article proved correct the following season, when they became contenders for the first time since 1920.

  2. Great feature Jessica!

    ‘Boy on Horse’ is beautiful, and hopefully the horse continued to stay put long enough.

    ‘Woman at Dude Ranch’ pops out at you with that bright yellow sun featuring her clean lines and colors. Too bad the price wasn’t up at the top though, near the date. Ludekens is one of my favorite illustrators.

    ‘Playing Cowboy’ is a great study in the look of motion in an illustration.

    ‘The Texan’ Another wonderful Rockwell. Today though, he’d need plenty of eyeliner as well if he were using (say) Johnny Depp as the model for perhaps a pirate, or a man in a really bizarre new cologne TV ad?

    ‘Spring Styles’ Really the best POST cover cowboy hat until John Wayne’s 54 years later.

    ‘Workhorse’ A great Leslie Thrasher cover, well predating all the ones he did for Liberty magazine between 1924 and ’36.

    ‘Little Cowboy’ A classic Leyendecker for sure. Either this boy does taste sweet, or his tears are adding to a salty flavor our wonderful little calf here is already enjoying.

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