Description:

This collectible prepaid phone card from 1996 serves as a captivating artifact that bridges telecommunications history and Western Americana. Manufactured by Ameritech and distributed by Powell Associates—who are prominently identified as the Master Distributor—the card provides five units of prepaid calling time. It was featured at the TeleCard World Show in New York that year, a major industry event showcasing innovative phone card designs. These details firmly situate the card within the mid-90s technological landscape, while its vivid illustration transports viewers to the rugged era of the American Wild West.

The card’s design centers around striking artwork by Gregory Perillo, a renowned artist celebrated for his dynamic and historically resonant Western scenes. The image depicts a Pony Express rider in full gallop, intensely focused as he races across dusty terrain. Dressed in classic Western attire—including a broad-brimmed hat, a flowing red scarf, and a tan jacket—the rider exemplifies the rugged spirit of the frontier. Perillo’s meticulous attention to detail is evident in the realistic portrayal of the horse, muscles taut and legs mid-stride, conveying both speed and urgency. This scene encapsulates the essence of 19th-century Western transportation, highlighting the Pony Express’s legendary role in delivering messages swiftly across vast, often perilous landscapes.

The imagery also incorporates symbolic elements reflecting the era’s martial and pioneering spirit. The rider is armed with a rifle casually slung over his shoulder, emphasizing the dangers faced—rival skirmishes, wildlife threats, and the wilderness itself. The depiction of weaponry and the rider’s determined expression evoke themes of bravery, endurance, and frontier survival. It romanticizes the cowboy figure deeply embedded in American culture, blending art with historical iconography to celebrate the mythos of westward expansion and communication innovation—before modern technology rendered such methods obsolete.

Beyond its artistic appeal, the card functions as an intriguing collector’s item that combines telecommunications history with American Western imagery. The inscription “Powell Associates Master Distributor” connects the card to its commercial roots in the telecommunications industry, while the “TeleCard World ’96 New York” branding highlights the global trade event that fostered such collectible releases. For enthusiasts of Pony Express lore, Western art, or vintage phone cards, this piece offers a tangible link to stories of invention, transportation, and the pioneering spirit of the Wild West—immortalized through Gregory Perillo’s evocative artwork and its collectible significance.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.