Tags
ankylosaurus, brontosaurus, corythosaurus, Dinoland, dinosaur, Matthew Kalmenoff, ornitholestes, Sinclair, Sinclair and the Exciting World of Dinosaurs, Sinclair Dinosaurs, Sinclair Oil, Smilodon, stegosaurus, struthiomimus, trachodon, Triceratops, tyrannosaurus
Today’s gallery showcases the complete 1967 booklet “Sinclair and the Exciting World of Dinosaurs.” Another one of Sinclair‘s famous free dinosaur promos, this one’s packed with great paintings on every page.
Since 1967, paleontology has updated our vision of these magnificent creatures. In 2005, for example, we found evidence of feathers on the tail of a tyrannosaur. William Stout included this incredible update in his tyrannosaur mural at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Now we conceive of their tails not dragging heavily on the ground, but in far more alert and active poses. Still, these 1960s paintings are a lot of fun.
Thank you to reader Edward Dietrich who, in 2017, told me of an earlier printing of this booklet dated 1964, released for the Sinclair Dinoland exhibit at the New York World’s Fair, 1964-1965. He sent the following three images, which are that edition’s cover and two additional pages illustrating the exhibit.
Have you seen my scans of photos from Sinclair at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair?
Thank you to reader Mark Menendez who, in 2012, used the power of enlargement to find the artist’s signature in these images and identify him: Matthew Kalmenoff. The American Museum of Natural History says:
Matthew Kalmenoff (1905-1986)
“Kal,” as he was known to his fellow artists, was employed at the AMNH from the 1950s through the early 1970s. His work can be found in the Hall of North American Forests, the renovated Hall of North American Birds, and in the Small Mammal Corridor of the Hall of North American Mammals.
Reader Edward Dietrich adds that Kalmenoff also contributed color illustrations to a wonderful Golden Stamp Book book I loved when I was a kid: Animals of the Past. Thank you for reminding me off this forgotten treasure, and revealing its connection to the Sinclair booklet! Collectors and prehistoric animal enthusiasts can sometimes find this book on eBay and Amazon.
Kalmenoff’s paintings from this 1970s book, along with black and white line drawings by Robert Gartland, appear to be recycled from a 1950s edition called The Golden Play Book of Animals from the Past Stamps. You can find scans of many of that edition’s interior pages and stamps at the blog Love in the Time of Chasmosaurs.
Kalmenoff’s painted mosasaur stamp rocks my world. I want a wall-sized version. And how can you not love the Skull of Uinta Beast? It’s a doom metal album cover! This is a charming book even if it makes numerous outdated statements about dinosaur biology, such as depicting brontosaurs spending all their time in water. For a more current take on brontos, you’ll need Ted Rechlin’s awesome graphic novel, Jurassic.
And now, without further ado, please enjoy the complete 1967 edition of “Sinclair and the Exciting World of Dinosaurs!” Featuring brontosaurus, struthiomimus, trachodon, tyrannosaurus, triceratops, ankylosaurus, corythosaurus, ornitholestes, and stegosaurus.
WOW! If, after all that, you are dying to see more paleoart from Matthew Kalmenoff, you’ll dig his black-and-white drawings from the 1956 book, All About Strange Beasts from the Past (written by Roy Chapman Andrews). Yes, you can find it on Amazon. But for samples of the interior, visit DinosaurHome, where we got the following images. If you thought Kalmenoff’s “Skull of Uinta Beast” stamp was doom metal, then check these out!
Paul O'Connor said:
I cherish the original copy I received from a certain blogmaster at Mars Will Send No More! This pamphlet is optimistic, nostalgic, and corporate creepy all in one.
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Mars Will Send No More said:
Glad you dug that, Paul! It’s a cool little booklet. Out of 100 people on our holiday mailing list, only the five biggest dinosaur/comics fans received our limited supply of these babies. Consider yourself blessed by the great dinosaur gods, and thank you for being a big part of the fun here on Mars.
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Paul O'Connor said:
Here’s my virtual, stubby-armed T-Rex High Five in reply, Mars! Thanks!
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Mark Menendez said:
The artist’s name appears to be Matthew Kalmenoff.
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Mars Will Send No More said:
Thank you, Mark! If you get this reply, maybe you can tell us where you discovered that! We had no luck.
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Mark Menendez said:
It was very easy! I merely zoomed-in on the two-page spread with the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops photo posted right on this blog! Google the artist, you’ll find him very interesting!
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Mars Will Send No More said:
Ah, you are right! All the time we spent with these images and we never noticed that little signature in there. Thank you! We’ll do some more research on him. For now, here is his blurb from the American Museum of Natural History:
Matthew Kalmenoff (1905-1986)
“Kal,” as he was known to his fellow artists, was employed at the AMNH from the 1950s through the early 1970s. His work can be found in the Hall of North American Forests, the renovated Hall of North American Birds, and in the Small Mammal Corridor of the Hall of North American Mammals.
http://amnh.net/exhibitions/dioramas/artists/painters.php#Kalmenoff
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Mark Menendez said:
I earn my living as an illustrator, so signatures on my work are important!
I found your blog looking for the artwork I remembered from the past, namely this booklet. It was given out when these almost life-sized dinosaur figures were on tour throughout the U.S., sponsored by Sinclair. I never got to see them, but other kids in my school did, and brought these booklets to school. I never even owned one, but the illustrations made a big impression on me. I memorized them, and still remembered what they looked like. Finding this blog “completed the circle.” Funny how small or even brief encounters have such a large impact on our lives. My hope is that my illustrations may inspire some future artists.
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Mars Will Send No More said:
We got a small stack of them last year on eBay searching for a plastic Sinclair dinosaur Dad got at a gas station many years ago. Never did find it, but got some sweet Sinclair dinos anyway! These booklets made nice gifts for our fellow dinosaur freaks on our mailing list. If you can’t find one, maybe we can trade one of our spare copies for a dino drawing 🙂
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Mark Menendez said:
Yes, that’s a possibility. Or perhaps you might rather have a signed copy of Anne Rice’s “The Mummy: Ramses the Damned” which I illustrated?
Let me know which one you’d like best, and we can arrange a swap.
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Mars Will Send No More said:
Mark, we have a booklet all packaged up for you. Mail + holidays = slowness, but it will be on its way shortly. Enjoy!
We’d be honored to have a signed copy of the book with your artwork!
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Mark Menendez said:
Thanks, a great Christmas gift! I’ll send yours out ASAP!
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Edward Dietrich said:
A little older than 1967, sir. My parents picked up two of these booklets at the 1964-65 NY World’s Fair when Sinclair had an exhibit with full-sized models of the illustrated dinosaurs. I have treasured my copies since childhood. In fact, I just looked at the booklet this morning.
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Mars Will Send No More said:
This makes me wonder if Sinclair did multiple printings of this booklet. The back cover of this one says “3.5MM 1967” in the lower left corner. I got a stack of maybe ten identical copies on eBay and mailed most of them to friends. Does your version from the World’s Fair have an earlier date printed on it?
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Edward Dietrich said:
I am embarrassed that I did not realize you responded way back in August. Yes. The copyright date on the back of my copy reads “3MM 1964”. Also, the words “Sinclair DINOLAND NEW YORK WORLD’S FAIR 1964-65” are on the front cover. Also, there are two additional pages inside with an illustration of the exhibit. If you would like scans to add to the post, please let me know.
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Mars Will Send No More said:
That’s awesome! I’ll update the post to reflect this. Thank you for filling in some of the history of this booklet!
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Edward Dietrich said:
Scans have be sent sir, via the email on your site.
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