Cartridge boards such as this were an excellent advertisement provided to sporting goods stores by cartridge manufacturers to hang in their shops, giving consumers a physical representation of the wide range of cartridges they provided. One of these boards is clearly shown hanging in the well-known photograph of the interior of J.P. Lower & Sons' shop in Denver, and other examples would have hung in other gunshops around the country as promotional items distributed by the Union Metallic Cartridge Co. in the late 19th century. These cartridge display boards, especially excellent examples like this, naturally make eye-catching display pieces in gun rooms, gun shops, homes, and businesses. Being one of the largest American cartridge manufacturers, Union Metallic Cartridge Co. would have wanted boards such as this hanging in as many retail locations as possible to compete with the likes of Winchester. This impressive board includes cartridges ranging from the tiny BB cap up to the massive 1 inch Gatling. Centered around a central diamond shaped image depicting a herd of deer and the "U.M.C." logo, a number of primers, caps, wads, and cut away brass shotgun shells join the myriad of rifle and revolver rounds. The frame features the attractive U.M.C. trademark and Union Metallic Cartridge Co. carved banners at the top and bottom respectively. It measures 41 1/2 x 54 1/2 inches overall.

Very fine, the board itself shows some slight fading, mild staining around the edges, and distinct imagery overall. All of the cartridges, bullets, and shells appear to be present and are generally bright with some showing a light, attractively aged patina. The frame generally shows an attractively aged dark stained patina with some scattered mild handling/storage wear, and the carved banners at the top and bottom show a dark aged patina/protective varnish and a few hairline age cracks. Overall a very fine, late 19th century advertising piece that would be the focal point of almost any room it is displayed in!