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ORIGINAL ART WORK FOR “THE AMERICAN MILITARY
SADDLE, 1776-1945” – NICE PIECES OF ORIGINAL PEN AND INK
ARTWORK THAT WERE PRODUCED FOR THE PUBLICATION:
These are original pen and ink drawings which were
produced by native Texas artist, David McMullen for
The American Military Saddle 1776-1945 authored by
R. Stephen Dorsey and I. Stephen also used David’s work
in his later volume The American Military Spur.
These drawings were rendered as we developed the concept
of the book, and as we neared completion, our choices
were refined and David executed finished pieces for
inclusion in the final draft. Some of the drawings
included here were conceptual pieces – story boards, if
you will – and others are the finished plates which were
used in the book, and as this difference applies, it is
indicated in the individual descriptions below. For
those pieces which appear in the book, the page on which
they are found is noted in the description.
I have known David for over 30 years. His love of the
American West has always been a driving force in his
life, and his art has a unique way of capturing the
character and presence of those strong personalities who
wrote history west of the Mississippi.
Each of these pieces is a one of a kind, and other than
in the printing of the book, they have not been
reproduced. When these specific pieces are sold, there
will not be duplicates available. Each piece is
described below in detail with accompanying
photographs.
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NO. 1
CAVALRY OFFICER ca. 1876: While this piece was
not selected for the book, this is classic example of
David’s work, and one that reminds me of the first time
I became aware of his talent. David was known to pick
up any available piece of paper – be it a sheet of bond,
the flap from a cardboard box, or in this case, a
portion of a used envelope – and within minutes of
concentrated work, he’d hand you a detailed portrait of
someone standing across the arena or farm yard. A true
natural talent. This figure of a veteran cavalry
officer measures 4 ½” tall and 2” wide, and is rendered
in ink on a piece of manila envelope measuring 7 ½” by 4
¼”. Considerable accurate detail in included in the
figure and the officer is obviously at ease in his
uniform and in his command. $50
 
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NO. 2
U.S. DRAGOON AND HIS HORSE EQUIPMENT ca. 1848:
One of the story boards David worked up for us, this
piece depicts a Mexican War era U.S. Dragoon saddling
his horse. In addition the piece includes the principal
pieces of necessary horse equipment the soldier would
require, to include a Model 1847 Grimsley Saddle. The
images are rendered in ink, the horse and dragoon
measuring 5 ¼” by 4 ¾” and the paper measuring 8 ½” by
11”. This piece was not selected for the book, however
certainly not because of the quality of the work. The
detail of each piece of horse equipment and the dragoon
is exquisite.
SOLD
 
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NO. 3
U.S. CAVALRYMAN AND HIS HORSE EQUIPMENT ca. 1859-1867:
A matching piece to the Dragoon story board shown above,
David captured the cavalier presence of the Civil War
and early Indian War Cavalryman. “Standing to his
horse”, the solder’s uniform and sabre belt, and the
equipment on his horse, are all done in fine detail.
The images are rendered in ink, the horse and soldier
measuring 5” by 4 ½”and the paper measuring 8 ½” by 11”.
Another of David’s concept pieces which did not appear
in the book, but only because others were chosen for the
limited available space. This piece and the
dragoon board should be kept together.
SOLD
 
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NO. 4
CHAPTER HEADER ARTWORK FOR “SADDLE VALISES”:
Depicting the valise carried on the cantle of the Model
1847 Grimsley Saddle, this is the original art work
banner which appears on page 323, The American
Military Saddle 1776-1945. Showing very nice
detail, this piece measures 8 ¾” by 4 ¾”. $50
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NO. 5
MODEL 1859 AND MODEL 1874 McCLELLAN SADDLES:
David executed this piece to show us the difference
between techniques and mediums – ink wash, versus
watercolors. Done on a heavy cardstock rag quality
paper, the saddles measure 4 ¼” by 3” and the overall
paper measures 11” by 8”. A nice piece with pleasing
tones. $50
 
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NO. 6
CHAPTER HEADER ARTWORK FOR “STIRRUPS”:
Depicting a selection of stirrups used on various
American military saddles, this is the original art work
banner which appears on page 259, The American
Military Saddle 1776-1945. Showing very nice
detail, this piece measures 8 ¾” by 4 ¾”. $50
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NO. 7
CHAPTER HEADER ARTWORK FOR “BRIDLE BITS”:
Depicting a selection of American military bridle bits,
this is the original art work banner which appears on
page 355, The American Military Saddle 1776-1945.
Showing very nice detail, this piece measures 8 ¾” by 4
¾”. $50
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NO. 8
HEADER ARTWORK FOR “THE 1841 DRAGOON SPUR”:
Depicting the Model 1841 Enlisted Spur with a selection of
shoes and boots worn by the early US Dragoons,
this is the original art work banner which appears on
page 17, The American Military Spur by R. Stephen
Dorsey.
Showing very nice detail, this piece measures 8" by 10”
and is executed on rag card stock. $50
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NO.
9
SPUR ARTIST WORK UP FOR “THE AMERICAN MILITARY SPUR”:
Depicting various spur styles drawn from the period
catalogs of horse equipment and spur companies, this is
an artist work sheet prepared for the author of
The American Military Spur, R. Stephen Dorsey.
While never used in that book, this single sheet
measuring 8 ½” by 11”, is executed in fine detail and
would be a nice piece to include in a spur collection
display. $30
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