A night view of a dense forest of wooden oil derricks lit by floodlights and flare lights, with storage tanks and low sheds in the foreground. The caption names it simply as one of California's great oil fields, a scene typical of the Los Angeles basin and San Joaquin Valley fields that made California a leading petroleum producer in the early 20th century. The card's linen texture and Curt Teich-style number date it to the mid-20th century boom era of California oil.
Postcard Details
Message · English, in pen
Saturday - Feb. 14 -
Dear folks - We are getting our
Cal. winter in the yard this
afternoon. June took us through
the - saw a expensive store
this morning. Waiting for Lew-
ellen to come home at 3:45 -
and then we will be on the go
again. there is no end to
sightseeing here. there are
we will have to be leaving here
next week for the colder spots.
Right now it is 75 to 78° but it
does get cold nights.
Helen + Martin
Linen-textured stock with a white border; printed number 3A-H997 in the lower right corner.
Postmark: BANK, CALIF FEB 14 5:30 PM 1948. Linen-texture chrome-era card, white border, divided back; 1¢ green Washington (prexie) stamp; light edge/corner wear.
Cite this card
Oil field at night, California, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/oil-field-at-night-california-circa-1940. Accessed October 24, 2026.
