Vintage NOAA California Current Marine Fishes Poster Chart 36\" Fish ID USA For Sale

🐠 Ethel has officially gone from Randy Rhoads to rockfish.

And frankly, the FFC inventory contains multitudes. 😂

This large-format vintage educational chart is titled “Marine Fishes of the California Current” and presents a colorful field-guide-style collection of fish found within the California Current ecosystem.

The illustrations are numbered to correspond with an extensive identification list giving both common and scientific names, turning this into much more than decorative fish artwork.

• Marine Fishes of the California Current
• Chart 1 of 2
• Issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce
• NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• Large-format illustrated fish identification chart
• Approximately 36\" tall × 20\" wide
• Approximately 50 numbered species represented
• Species identified by common and scientific names
• U.S. Government educational publication
• Vintage marine science / fisheries ephemera
• Unframed
• Exact item shown in photographs

📏 Size: Approximately 36 inches tall × 20 inches wide, based on the measurements shown in the listing photographs. Measurements are approximate; please review the photographed measuring tape/ruler for additional detail.

The chart identifies an impressive assortment of Pacific marine life, including examples such as:

Surf smelt, California flyingfish, northern anchovy, Pacific saury, Pacific sardine, king salmon, albacore, Pacific bonito, yellowtail, California halibut, white seabass, cabezon, California scorpionfish, lingcod and multiple species of rockfish, among many others.

Basically, if it was swimming around the California Current, somebody at NOAA apparently said:

“PUT IT ON THE POSTER.” 😂🐟

And Ethel appreciates that level of commitment.

The lower portion identifies the issuing organization as the:

U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service

The chart also retains its government publication information and development/artwork credits, making this an identifiable piece of American scientific and fisheries-history ephemera, rather than simply an anonymous decorative reproduction.

Those little publication markings may not be glamorous, but to collectors they\'re exactly the sort of details Ethel likes to find. 🦩🔎

This unusual chart crosses into several collecting and decorating worlds:

🐟 Marine biology & ichthyology
🎣 Fishing & angling memorabilia
🌊 California & Pacific Coast history
⚓ Nautical and coastal décor
🔬 Vintage science & natural-history displays
🏛️ U.S. Government and NOAA ephemera
🏫 Classroom and educational wall charts
🐠 Aquarium, marina and beach-house décor

At roughly three feet tall, this isn\'t some tiny diagram disappearing into the wall, either.

The fish have presence. 🐟✨

Vintage pre-owned condition with visible age, handling and storage wear.

The detailed photographs document condition throughout the chart, including areas specifically identified with the brown pointer, along with visible edge/corner wear, surface wear, creasing and other imperfections associated with age, previous display, handling and storage.

Please examine all photographs carefully before purchasing. Photos are part of the description and show the exact item you will receive.

This appears to have actually lived a life as an educational wall chart rather than spending decades tucked inside an archival vault.

🦩 Ethel considers that character. The condition department calls it disclosure. Everybody wins.

The California Current is a major Pacific Ocean current that moves southward along the western coast of North America. Its productive waters support an enormous variety of marine life — which explains the impressive aquatic cast assembled here.

And this particular piece is marked:

“Chart 1 of 2.”

Meaning somewhere out there is Chart 2, presumably wondering where its friend went.

Fantastic for anyone searching for vintage NOAA posters, Marine Fishes of the California Current charts, National Marine Fisheries Service memorabilia, California fish identification posters, Pacific Coast fish charts, vintage marine biology posters, ichthyology charts, fisheries memorabilia, ocean science ephemera, U.S. Department of Commerce publications, government educational posters, fishing cabin décor, nautical wall art, California coastal memorabilia, natural history charts, vintage classroom posters and marine science displays.

🐟 Whether it ends up in the beach house, fishing cabin, classroom, aquarium room, marina office or above the tackle collection, this is one wonderfully nerdy piece of vintage wall décor.

🦩 Ethel cannot identify all 50 fish from across the room.

But give her time.