Vintage Reno’s Mapes Hotel Casino Advertising Pencil
Viridian Eclection
The Piece
A wood advertising pencil from Reno's Mapes Hotel Casino, printed "Reno's Mapes" with promotional prize text and graphics.
The form is plain, a simple wood barrel, and the interest sits entirely in the bold printed graphics running its length. Pencils of this kind were produced for casino floor use, most likely as a gaming or keno pencil.
History & Provenance
The Mapes Hotel opened in Reno in 1947 and remained one of the city's best known hotel casinos until it closed in 1982. It was among downtown Reno's most recognizable mid century gaming landmarks.
The pencil is undated. The period is given as the 1950s through the 1970s, which places it within the working life of the property and within mid century Nevada gaming culture.
The printed prize text and graphics are the only marks, and they identify the property directly.
Product Details
| Property | Mapes Hotel Casino |
| Origin | Reno, Nevada |
| Form | Advertising pencil, likely a gaming or keno pencil |
| Era | c. 1950s to 1970s |
| Materials | Wood |
| Marks | "Reno's Mapes" with promotional prize text and graphics |
| Category | Casino memorabilia, Reno ephemera, advertising collectible |
| Condition | Vintage condition with wear, fading and surface age consistent with use |
| Dimensions | To be confirmed |
Why It Belongs in Your Home
Casino ephemera survives badly. It was made to be used on a floor and thrown away, and a named property with legible graphics is the kind of specificity collectors look for and seldom find intact.
It sits easily on a desk, behind a bar, or on a shelf, and it belongs in any Nevada memorabilia collection built around the downtown properties.
The Mapes is gone. Small printed objects like this are much of what is left of it.
Every piece is packed with professional-grade materials: multiple foam layers, double-boxing, directional and fragile handling labels. For large furniture we use custom timber crating. We photograph packing before dispatch and can provide images on request.
White-glove delivery is complimentary within 100 miles of Reno, NV. National shipping quotes provided at checkout. All shipments are photographed and documented. Damage claims must be filed with the carrier; we provide all documentation needed to support your claim.
Local pickup is available at Viridian HQ (Reno, NV) with 2–4 days notice. Contact us to arrange. Private viewings also available.
All antique and vintage items are sold as described and all sales are final. Each listing includes detailed condition notes and photographs so you can make a fully informed decision. We encourage buyers to ask questions — about condition, dimensions, finish, provenance — before purchasing.
Antiques are irreplaceable and one-of-a-kind. Carrier handling is outside our control once a piece has left our facility, and major carriers including FedEx do not insure antiques. We do everything within our power to ensure safe transit, but cannot accept liability for carrier damage. If damage occurs in transit, we will provide full documentation to support your carrier claim.
Have a question? — we're happy to provide additional photos, condition detail, or discuss the piece directly.
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