Branded Wildrag

A study of the very first cattle brands registered in the state of California, hand printed on silk. Taken from the fragile, hand written pages of the first Book of Brands in the county recorder’s office in Los Angeles. It’s worn, brittle pages contain early entries dating from 1833 to 1852. Because of California's countless growing herds grazing over unfenced leagues, the branding mark of the Spanish-Mexican ranchero became his crest. Like a coat of arms this was safeguarded by registry filed in the hands of the civil authorities and handed down from father to son. A daughter's dowry was a separate brand and a herd of cattle. No regal coat of arms has ever served more proudly and accurately than the crest of the ranchero's branding iron. By this, he and his family are still remembered. A “wild rag” is a cowboy or western scarf worn around the neck. Wild rags have been around since the 1800s and traditionally used as protection from the elements. They’re typically much larger than a b