A BRAND MAY CONSIST OF A LETTER, NUMERAL, CHARACTER, OR SYMBOL, OR A COMBINATION OF ONE OR MORE OF ANY OR ALL OF THESE
Brands are considered the trademark for the rangeland signifying pride of ownership in livestock.
"MANY MEN HAVE AMASSED HUGH FORTUNES THROUGH THE LEGITIMATE APPLICATION OF THEIR BRANDING IRONS. OTHERS HAVE PAID WITH THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THEIR IMPROPER USE."
Brands have been used as marks of identification at some time in all countries and civilizations. The branding scene below is shown on Egyptian Tomb walls dating back to 2,000 B.C.
BRANDS WERE APPLIED TO HUMANS AS RECENT AS 1822
For over 4,000 years, brands have been used for identification on both livestock and humans. Fugitives, galley slaves, gypsies, vagabonds, brawlers, and the clergy have been marked with "symbols of shame" brands down through history.
LIKE BOOKS, BRANDS ARE READ FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND LEFT TO RIGHT
The science of brand reading almost requires a language of its own. Amazingly, every numeral and letter of the alphabet can be made with an iron shaped in a 
configuration.
UNTIL MODERN TIMES, TO PREVENT THEFT, LIVESTOCK BEING DRIVEN ACROSS COUNTRY WERE REQUIRED TO BE "ROAD BRANDED"
The brands were painted on with pine tar or paint in early history. Later, when the vast trail herds of cattle were driven north to market, hot iron brands were used.
RUSTLERS USING "RUNNING IRONS" WERE INGENIOUS IN CHANGING BRANDS
The most famous brand change involved making the X I T brand into a Star with a cross inside.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BRANDS, SEE THE DISPLAYS IN THE DEVIL'S ROPE MUSEUM IN McLEAN, TEXAS
The displays show early Mexican, Spanish Land Grant, and Spanish Missions brands dating back to 1493 when livestock were first brought to the Western Hemisphere.
Hundreds of registered brands dating from 1850 to modern times are exhibited along with artwork, old photographs of branding scenes, and "100 Years of Cowboy Tools" mounted on a wall.
A huge Ranching History Exhibit explores the locations, brands used, and photographs of the most famous ranches in American history.
You may have your registered brand displayed for a $5 00 fee. Send design, name of owner, years used, and state and county where brand is registered, to Devil's Rope Museum, Box 290, McLean, Texas 79057. We will add your 4-inch tall brand to our display.
TRACING BRANDS
If you want to trace an old brand's history and registration, please find the county and state in which it was used. Write or call the County Clerk in that county and inquire. All counties should have a brand records book dating back to the organization of the county. If you live in the area, visit the clerk's office and ask to see the brands book.
TYPICAL BRAND DESIGN
View Typical Brand Designs. (All information and brand designs are taken from public records and the archives of the Devil's Rope Museum in McLean, Texas. All may be used without restrictions with proper credits given, please.)
A COLLAGE OF CATTLE BRANDS
No restrictions on use of the Collage of Cattle Brands page, please give credits to Devil's Rope Museum.
