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1939 Golden Gate Expo Treasure Island Aerial View FLAMO Standard Oil Souvenir Plaque
Description
Original 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition commemorative plaque featuring a panoramic view of Treasure Island and San Francisco Bay, with an advertising imprint for FLAMO natural gas from the Standard Oil Company of California.
Measuring approximately 10 × 7 inches, this attractive octagonal plaque features a detailed silver-tone illustration with an embossed-metal appearance and a brown fiberboard backing.
The centerpiece is an oval aerial panorama of Treasure Island and the Golden Gate International Exposition, with the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge extending across the foreground, Yerba Buena Island, the exposition buildings, and vessels on the bay.
The surrounding architectural illustrations depict prominent landmarks of the exposition, including the Tower of the Sun, the Court of Pacifica, and other monumental fair buildings.
Across the top appears the date 1939, while a ribbon beneath the central illustration reads “Golden Gate International Exposition.”
Original FLAMO Advertising Imprint
An especially interesting feature of this example is the original red advertising imprint on the reverse:
STANDARD FLAMO
NATURAL GASFOR USEBEYOND THE GAS MAINS
STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
FLAMO was a bottled-gas product marketed by Standard Oil of California for use in locations beyond established gas distribution systems.
This advertising connection makes the plaque appealing to two collecting markets: 1939 World's Fair memorabilia and vintage Standard Oil/petroleum advertising.
Unlike the previously listed plaques, this example has a clearly identifiable corporate promotional imprint on the reverse.
The Golden Gate International Exposition was held on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay in 1939 and 1940, celebrating the Pacific region and the city's newly completed great bridges.
Distinguishing feature: This is the Treasure Island aerial panorama design, not the Golden Gate Bridge-centered design of Plaque 1 or the detailed exposition-grounds panorama of Plaque 3.
Dimensions: Approximately 10 × 7 inches.
Material: Silver-tone decorative surface over a nonmetallic substrate, with fiberboard backing. Exact composition unverified.
Date: 1939.
This listing is for the individual plaque pictured.
Condition
Good vintage condition.
The architectural illustrations and lettering remain sharp and highly legible. The decorative surface exhibits scattered rubbing, scratches, minor losses of the silver-tone finish, and wear around the outer edges and corners, including several small areas exposing the underlying material.
The reverse fiberboard backing shows age-related discoloration, scattered stains, and handling wear. The red FLAMO advertising imprint remains clear and legible.
Overall, a visually attractive surviving example with substantially less surface loss than Plaque 3.
Please examine photographs carefully.
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