vintage american travel poster

The Extraordinary Story of Iconic American Travel Posters

In the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, the New Deal created jobs for more than 8 million Americans with the development of the Works Projects Administration (WPA). In an effort to bring work to struggling artists, the WPA also hired illustrators, painters and other creative workers for special government-funded work as part of what it dubbed the Federal Art Project.

The effort was astonishing in scope: Between 1935 and 1943, some 2 million posters in 35,000 different designs were created in an effort to promote education, theater, health, safety — and travel.

To inspire American tourism, artists created posters showcasing cities, museums, monuments, zoos and other wonders of the American landscape. Arguably the most iconic posters of all, though, touted one of America's greatest treasures: its spectacular national park system. 

Vintage Posters of the National Parks

The majority of the WPA's national park posters are credited to artist C. (Chester) Don Powell, a Kansas man who studied art in Chicago. Unfortunately, World War II cut his project short, leaving just 14 original works, all of which are now collectibles that can fetch thousands of dollars.

Of the 14 posters, 11 originals have been recovered by a former park ranger, Doug Leen, who also works to create posters of additional parks in the same vintage style of the originals.

One poster, of Yosemite, is privately owned. Two posters, of Wind Cave and the Great Smoky Mountains, have been lost — if you find one, Ranger Doug wants to speak to you! 

Grand Teton's Jenny Lake Museum

The first park to get its own poster was Grand Teton National Park. Its poster appropriately depicts towering peaks, while nodding to the park's first ranger station, Jenny Lake Museum.

The log-cabin station opened in the Montana park in the 1930s and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. An original of this poster hangs in the museum.

Grand Canyon National Park

The second completed poster is a rendering of Grand Canyon National Park's Moran Point, a popular spot on the east rim that showcases dazzling views of the canyon and its rivers. 

The Grand Canyon had only been a national park for 19 years when this poster was created. Today, more than 6 million people visit the park annually, making it the second-most-visited in the country.

At the time the posters were created, they were sent to local Chambers of Commerce near the parks to help promote tourism. Only four copies from the original 1938 distribution exist.

Yellowstone National Park

Two posters were created for Yellowstone National Park. One featured a waterfall within the park; the other, pictured here, depicted the park's famous geyser, Old Faithful. There were no more than 100 total Yellowstone posters made, which is why they are so hard to find today. 

Only two originals of this geyser poster remain, including one the Library of Congress bought for a cool $6,000. Although created by Powell, the originals have "EM" initials, assumed to be the initials of the person who made the screening.

Glacier Bay National Monument

Although Glacier National Park was inducted into the park system in 1910, it wasn't until 1925 that President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Glacier Bay itself a national monument. Just 13 years later, the National Park Service was promoting the park, reached then by steamship and today by Alaskan cruises.

This poster, along with the additional 13 posters of the national parks, were hand-painted and mass-reproduced from paintings using silkscreen printing, which was a new technology in 1936. 

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Smoke billows out from the peak of Mt. Lassen in this poster depicting one of America's lesser-visited national parks. (A shame, as its forests, lakes and — of course — volcanoes are magnificent.)

The original poster of Lassen Volcano in California sold at auction for more than $4,000.

Zion National Park

To reproduce the lost posters, Ranger Doug uncovered black-and-white photography depicting the paintings. Guessing Zion's poster would highlight the park's beautiful sunset-hued colors, he crafted the version showed here. It was 10 years before he found the original, which actually used blue coloring.

Ranger Doug's version of this poster is the more popular of the reproductions purchased today.

Fort Marion National Monument

St. Augustine, Florida's Fort Marion was one of only two parks from the east to get a poster. (The other was Great Smoky Mountains National Park.)

Today, this monument is known as Castillo de San Marcos. It preserves a fort used by the Spanish, the British and then the Spanish again, before it was bought by the United States and used by the army until 1899.

See America

National parks weren't the only American marvels to get the snazzy poster treatment. The United States Travel Bureau also commissioned works that could be displayed in cities to inspire exploration.

This poster was created by artist Alexander Dux, one of more than 5,000 artists employed by the WPA. While not officially part of the national parks project — and even though it promotes America broadly — it actually does showcase a national park as backdrop: Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.

Brooklyn Museum

Before the WAP was established in 1935, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia had established his own poster project in 1934 to promote tourism to the Big Apple. When the federal project began, LaGuardia's project merged with, and became the largest division of, the WAP's Federal Art Project.

Both the mayor's and FAP's posters were mainly designed for art, music, theater and creative projects, but soon cities and states began using posters to promote other programs as well.

Puerto Rico

Also created for the New York City project was a poster promoting travel to Puerto Rico, as the city was touting destinations that could be reached by plane. New York City wanted more people to visit its airports and take flight.

This illustration was designed by Frank S. Nicholson and features a view of San Juan Harbor from Morro Caste.

Winter in New York

While New York City had the largest poster division in the country, New York State created tourism posters, as well, reminding travelers there was much more to see in the state than the Big Apple. This poster promotes the state's robust skiing scene; New York is home to 43 ski areas , reportedly more than any other state in the U.S.

Through the Federal Art Project, artists were paid $23.50 per week .

Brookfield Zoo

Chicago created a series of posters promoting the Brookfield Zoo, also called the Chicago Zoological Park, just outside of the city. The zoo had opened in 1934, and the city was attempting to promote it to nearby residents. Decades later, the zoo remains a popular Chicago attraction, housing 450 species of animals.

Other posters plugged sites like Buckingham Fountain, then touted as "the world's largest and most beautiful illuminated fountain"; it also remains a standout spot in the Windy City.

Philadelphia Zoo

Pennsylvania created many posters to promote Philadelphia and various tourist destinations, including the Amish Country.

The Philadelphia Zoo, which opened in 1874, was touted in several posters made by the Federal Art Project in Pennsylvania. Each poster featured animals found at the zoo, including a hippo, two herons and this blue elephant. The Philadelphia Zoo remains one of the best in the nation, home to some 1,300 animals.

New York Airports

Opposition within Congress caused the WAP program to end. By 1942, the WPA art projects were handed over to the Defense Department and transformed into the Graphics Section of the War Service Division. Artists created training aids and patriotic posters for the war.

The project officially ended on June 30, 1943.

The End of an Era

Due to the Federal Art Project's eight years of employment, renowned artists such as Jackson Pollock were able to continue to earn a living creatively. 

The program also brought art classes to schools and created more than 100 community art centers and galleries across America, keeping art alive for millions during the Great Depression.

The total investment? Nearly $35 million . (More than $520 million in today's terms!)

Vintage Travel Posters

Vintage Travel Posters and WPA Travel Posters from around the world. Featuring  vintage travel posters from Europe, South America, the American West and the WPA. Our vintage travel posters are printed on museum-quality paper and make a fine addition to the home or board room. WPA travel posters evoke classic 1940s American design. At a time when many Americans were ready to set out for adventures in their cars, vintage WPA travel posters helped fuel the imagination.

American Airlines

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.

Submission Successful!

Please check your email for more information., to view your wishlist, please login.

Original Vintage Posters from around the Globe Our 30th Year

• New Arrivals (20)
• Animals & Creatures (123)
• Autos, Bicycles, Cycles, Planes (78)
• Circus & Zoo (21)
• Clothing, Fashion & Stores (87)
• Cosmetics & Beauty (5)
• Fairs & Expos (55)
• Art & Architecture (302)
• Books & Magazines (80)
• Exhibitions (259)
• Beverage (128)
• Gift Ideas (105)
• Home & Appliances (34)
• Horizontals (233)
• In-Store Displays (14)
• Labels (145)
• Maitres de l'Affiche (41)
• All Music incl. Opera (253)
• Rock and Roll (74)
• Poster Books (21)
• Education (67)
• Newspapers & Media (64)
• Politics, Gov't & Causes (100)
• Religion & Charity (40)
• Ricordi Portfolio (16)
• Smoking (25)
• All Sports incl. Auto Racing (84)
• Skiing & Winter Sports (56)
• Theatre & Magic (27)
• Airlines (60)
• Motor & Sail Boats (7)
• Ocean Liners (54)
• Railroads (32)
• Schedules & Maps (37)
• Australasia (4)
• Eur: Austria & Germany (42)
• Eur: France & Belgium (38)
• Eur: Italy, UK & Spain (37)
• Eur: Scandinavia (7)
• Eur: Switzerland (27)
• Eur: Other Countries (11)
• Latin America (6)
• USA & Canada (66)
• Home Front (37)
• Miscellaneous (5)
• Recruiting (8)
• Soviet (47)
• War Bonds (43)
• World War I (73)
• World War II (115)
• Work Incentive (26)
• Australia & New Zealand (4)
• Belgium & The Netherlands (54)
• Canada (11)
• Eastern Europe (46)
• FR - Belle Epoque & WWI (87)
• FR - Jazz Age Thru WWII (69)
• FR - After WWII (220)
• Germany & Austria (171)
• Great Britain & Ireland (42)
• Italy - Opulent Age thru WWI (35)
• Italy - The Fascist Era (52)
• Italy - Postwar Boom (136)
• Latin America (31)
• Middle East (1)
• RU - Bolshevik Era (7)
• RU - New Economic Policy (NEP) (3)
• RU - 1st & 2nd Five Yr Plans (1)
• RU - WWII to Present (236)
• Scandinavia (24)
• Swiss - Early 20th Century (44)
• Swiss - Mid Century (46)
• Swiss - Sixties & Seventies (116)
• Swiss - Eighties to Present (197)
• US - Turn of the Century (13)
• US - World War I (66)
• US - Roaring '20s to Present (335)
• 50s Style (82)
• 60s Style (48)
• Art Deco (188)
• Art Nouveau (162)
• Bolshevik (7)
• Cappiello Style (13)
• Constructivist (15)
• Futurist (16)
• Int'l Typographic Style (101)
• 50s & 60s Style (129)
• Pop Art (22)
• Object Poster (17)
• Photomontage (59)
• Post Modern (232)
• Poster Style (Plakatstil) (67)
• Psychedelic (Sixties) (67)
• Vienna Secession (6)
• Bathroom (10)
• Beach House (37)
• Child's Room (41)
• Hallway (58)
• Kitchen (49)
• Office (64)
• Ski Chalet (41)
• Small - max 24 in (64 cm) (597)
• Medium - max 44 in (112 cm) (926)
• Med/Large - max 51 in (130 cm) (427)
• Large - max 64 in (163 cm) (138)
• Oversize > 64 in (163 cm) (103)
• Horizontal (286)
• $100 and under (493)
• $101 to $250 (502)
• $251 to $500 (580)
• $501 to $1,000 (303)
• $1,001 to $2,400 (194)
• $2,401 to $3,200 (30)
• $3,201 to $6,000 (72)
• $6,001 to $10,000 (8)
• over $10,000 (11)
• Aberg, O (5)
• Abruzzese, Alberto & Simona de Iulio (1)
• Addison (1)
• Afflerbach, Ferdi (1)
• Aicher, Otl (2)
• Albers, Josef (2)
• Alberti (1)
• Anton, Ottomar (6)
• Antonov, F. (1)
• Appel, Karel (1)
• Artist Unknown (622)
• Astruc, Leon (1)
• Atelier Populaire (3)
• Atherton, John (3)
• Auger, Raoul (2)
• Adami, Valerio (4)
• Aberg, G. (1)
• Arseenkova, V. (3)
• Augustinova, Bozhena (1)
• Arseenkov (2)
• Akhunov, M. (1)
• Abramov & Andreev (1)
• Arsenkov, v. (1)
• Arpke, Otto (1)
• Anderson, J.S. (1)
• Antonchenko, Anatoliy (1)
• Axster-Heudtlass, Werner von (1)
• Bac, Ferdinand (1)
• Bacchi, Balz (1)
• Bachs, Munoz (3)
• Badia, Ricard (1)
• Bahamas (1)
• Baker, Ernest Hamlin (2)
• Ballester, Anselmo (5)
• Barcet, E. (1)
• Baskerville, Charles (1)
• Batany, Cheval (1)
• Baumberger, Otto (6)
• Bazzi, Mario (2)
• Beardon, Romare (1)
• Beck, Joel (1)
• Becker, Ruedi (1)
• Beckman, Anders (1)
• Beneker, Gerrit (1)
• Berckmans, Roger (1)
• Bernard, Francis (2)
• Besig, Walter (1)
• Bickel, Karl (1)
• Bierut, Michael (1)
• Bill, Max (3)
• Bille, Edmond (1)
• Birkhauser, Peter (6)
• Bischof, Werner (1)
• Bisshof, Werner (1)
• Blashfield, Edwin Howland (1)
• Blashfield, Jim (1)
• Blochlinger, A. (1)
• Blumenstein/Plancherel/Krugel (1)
• Boccasile, Gino (3)
• Boissonas, F. (1)
• Bon Salle, George and Jeanne (1)
• Boner, Georgette (1)
• Borgersen, Orville (1)
• Borghesil (1)
• Borgoni, Mario (1)
• Boscovitz, Fritz (1)
• Botero, Fernando (1)
• Botta, Mario (1)
• Bouvet, Michel (1)
• Bracker, M. Leone (1)
• Bragalini, A. (1)
• Braque, Georges (9)
• Brayer, Yves (2)
• Bridge, Alexander (1)
• Briggs, Austin (1)
• Brini, Ercole (4)
• Brissaud, Jacques (1)
• Brown, Arthur William (1)
• Bruhwiler, Paul (24)
• Brun, Donald (2)
• Brunner, Vratislav H. (1)
• Bundi, Stephan (1)
• Burke, Alfred (1)
• Bury, Pol (3)
• Bush, S. L. (3)
• Butler, John (1)
• Butler, Roland (1)
• Byrd, David (1)
• Byrne, Roger (1)
• Bertram/Volkart (1)
• Bazaine, Jean Rene (1)
• Benko, Sandor (1)
• Bogorad (1)
• Bouvard, R. (1)
• Beall, C.C. (1)
• Bergsoe, Thomas (1)
• Bret, Francois (1)
• Bruggisser, Markus (3)
• Bosshard, H.R. (1)
• Brindisi, Remo (1)
• Barrenechea (1)
• Birchansky (1)
• Bairakov (1)
• Berezitsky, A. (1)
• Bystriakov (1)
• Bayer, Herbert (1)
• Belsky & Potapov (1)
• Bonnard, Pierre (1)
• Brissaud, Pierre (1)
• Brechbuhl, Erich (1)
• Blondel La Rougery (1)
• Bischoff (1)
• Bonnert (1)
• Baojian, Yu (1)
• Babin, N. (1)
• Belsky, Fedor (1)
• Caillaud, L. (1)
• Caldanzano, Luigi Emilio (1)
• Calder, Alexander (3)
• Canale, V. (2)
• Canta, Agnes C. (1)
• Capitani, Alfredo (1)
• Cappiello, Leonetto (2)
• Carboni, Erberto (2)
• Cardinaux, Emil (3)
• Carnevale-Mauzan, Mirande (1)
• Caro, Valentin (1)
• Casaro, R. (1)
• Cassandre, A. M. (3)
• Cesselon, Angelo (6)
• Chagall, Marc (4)
• Chan, Harvey (1)
• Charpentier, Alexandre (1)
• Chebakov, N. (1)
• Cheremnych, Mikhail (1)
• Cheret, Jules (10)
• Chiarel (1)
• Chillida, Eduardo (2)
• Christy, Howard Chandler (2)
• Cimino, Harry (3)
• Cisari, Giulio (1)
• Cittato, Giulio (1)
• Clave, Antonio (1)
• Clouet, Emile (1)
• Codognato, Plinio (1)
• Codoni, Aldo (1)
• Colas, Yvonne (1)
• Colin, Paul (1)
• Conklin, Lee (3)
• Contino, Vittorugo (1)
• Crafty (Victor Geruzez) (1)
• Cremonesi, Carmelo (1)
• Crovoto (2)
• Cocteau, Jean (2)
• Courtin, Pierre (1)
• Cussetti (1)
• Clausen, Sven Heilman (1)
• Covarrubias, Miguel (1)
• Chernyi, I. (2)
• Chistilin, I. (1)
• Collomb, Paul (1)
• Cassigneul, Jean-Pierre (1)
• Coggins, Jack (1)
• Coughlin, John A. (1)
• Colavidas, Onesim (1)
• Camy, Edward (1)
• Dahl-Wolfe, Louise (1)
• Dali, Salvador (1)
• Damiani (1)
• d'apres Faure, G. (2)
• d'apres Kamb (1)
• d'apres Martin, Charles (1)
• d'apres Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri (14)
• d'apres, Henri Matisse (1)
• David, Jean (1)
• Davis, Paul (2)
• de Feure, Georges (1)
• de Praetere, Jules (1)
• Deamicis (2)
• Dellepiane, David (1)
• Denisovsky, Nikolay Federovich (2)
• Depero, Fortunato (1)
• Depuy, Hal (1)
• Dexel, Walter (1)
• Dickerman, Leah (1)
• Diethelm, Walter (1)
• Diggelmann, Alex Walter (1)
• Dine, Jim (1)
• Distefano (1)
• Dixon, Charles (1)
• Dlugach, Mikhail (1)
• Domergue, Jean-Gabriel (2)
• Dradi, Carlo (1)
• Dubois, Jacques (1)
• Dudovich, Marcello (4)
• Dudzinski, Ansrzej (1)
• Dumbar, Gert (2)
• Dumville, Fritz (1)
• Dydo, Krysztof (1)
• d'Ylen, Jean (2)
• Drewinski, Lex (1)
• d'apres Gris, Juan (1)
• Dubuffet, Jean (1)
• Driessen, Willem Adriaan (1)
• Danioth, Heinrich (1)
• Deni, Victor (2)
• de Kermadec, Eugene (1)
• Dzubas, Friedel (1)
• Dzhanikian, a. (1)
• Dubeniuk (1)
• d'Arquizan, Autour (1)
• Dobrovolsky, V. (1)
• Dietrich, Paul (1)
• d'apres Favre, G. (2)
• Edelmann, Heinz (2)
• Edmundson (1)
• Eggleston, Edward (1)
• Eggmann, HM (1)
• Eidrigevicius (Stasys), Stasys (4)
• Elagin, A. (1)
• Elmes, Willard Frederic (5)
• Ermakov (1)
• Ernst, Otto (1)
• Escher, Gielijn (1)
• Esteve, Maurice (2)
• Etbauer, Paul Theodore (1)
• EXEM (Emmanuel Excoffier) (2)
• Ernst, Max (1)
• Emmerick, Louis (1)
• Efimov, Boris (2)
• Eliseev, A. (1)
• Emrenberger (1)
• Fabigan, Hans (2)
• Fachun, J. Des (1)
• Faria, Candido Aragonese De (2)
• Farini, Ferruccio (1)
• Fay, Georges (1)
• Fischer, Otto (2)
• Fischinger, August (1)
• Fisher, Harrison C. (1)
• Fix-Masseau, Pierre (1)
• Flagg, James Montgomery (1)
• Folon, Jean-Michel (1)
• Foringer, Alonzo E. (1)
• Fournier, H (1)
• Fraipont, Gustave (1)
• Franciscono, Marcel (1)
• Frenzel, Prof. H. K. (2)
• Fuss, Albert (2)
• Feininger, Lyonel (1)
• Foster, David (1)
• Fiedler, Francois (2)
• Flem, Wladimir (1)
• Fedianin, K. (1)
• Fedorov, M. (1)
• Furaev, A. (1)
• Fiorio, Serge (1)
• Fernel, Fernand (1)
• Foss, Jonathan (1)
• Gable, John (5)
• Galland, Andre (1)
• Garretto, Paolo (1)
• Gasser, Bruno (1)
• Gauchat, Pierre (1)
• Gavrilov (2)
• Gee, Peter (2)
• Geismar, Thomas (2)
• Geissbuhler, K. Domenic (17)
• Gelotte (1)
• Georget, Guy (1)
• Gestel, Leo (1)
• Gfeller, Thomas (1)
• Gilles, Ettlin (1)
• Gipkens, Julius (2)
• Gir, Charles-Felix (1)
• Gorowski, M. (1)
• Grabner (1)
• Graski, Jozef (1)
• Griffin, Rick (6)
• Gruau, Rene (1)
• Grun, Jules-Alexandre (2)
• Grunbock, Fritz (1)
• Guillaume, Albert (1)
• Gyssler, F & D (1)
• Garache (1)
• Giacometti, Alberto (2)
• Golovkova, l. (1)
• Gaussman (1)
• Gontar, A.O. (1)
• Gonzalez, Xavier (1)
• Gardashnikova & Sursky (1)
• Getman, M. (1)
• Gurtler, Andre (1)
• Glintzer, E. (1)
• Groth, W (1)
• Gual, Adrià (1)
• Greene, Walter L. (1)
• Granger (1)
• Hallo ("Alo"), Charles (2)
• Hanks, Pat (1)
• Hardy, Dudley (1)
• Hartung, Hans (1)
• Haskell (1)
• Hazard, Abigail Kellogg (2)
• Hazenplug, Frank (1)
• Henrikksen, Sven (1)
• Hilaire, Camille (2)
• Hockney, David (1)
• Hoetger, Bernhard (1)
• Hofmann, Armin (14)
• Hohenstein, Adolfo (5)
• Hohlwein, Ludwig (47)
• Holzwarth, Hans Werner (1)
• Honegger, Gottfried (1)
• Hook (George Taboureau), Sandy (1)
• Hoppler, Albert (1)
• Hotz, E. (1)
• Humbert and Vogt (1)
• Hurkmans, Ge. (1)
• Hanni, Romano (1)
• Hantai, Simon (1)
• Humair, Gabriel (1)
• Hadengue, Sebastien (1)
• Hargittai, Paul (1)
• Horton/Sandiford (1)
• Hetsterkamp, W. (1)
• Haijiang, Jia (1)
• Haffner, L. (1)
• Handel-Mazzetti, Edo von (1)
• Herbin, Auguste (1)
• Hotop, G. (1)
• Hauglustaine (1)
• Him, George (1)
• Ibels, Henri-Gabriel (4)
• Illegible (7)
• Imboden, Melchior (2)
• Iribe, Paul (2)
• Irons, Greg (1)
• Isern, Albert (1)
• Ivanov, K (1)
• Isakov, Yu. (1)
• Ivanov, V. (3)
• Ingres, Maurice (1)
• Jank, Angelo (1)
• Jeker, Werner (21)
• Jenko, Radovan (1)
• Jakfalvy, Tibor (1)
• Jung, Moriz (1)
• Jebray, Fritz (7)
• Kandinsky, Wassily (3)
• Kawamura, U. (1)
• Keller, G (1)
• Kelley, Alton (1)
• Klein, David (1)
• Klijn, W. (1)
• Klinger, Julius (2)
• Knab, A. (1)
• Koch, Walther (1)
• Koella, Alfred (1)
• Koerner, H. (1)
• Koretsky, Viktor (1)
• Kothmair, Hans (1)
• Kraczyna, Swietlan (1)
• Kraft, G (1)
• Krol, Stan (1)
• Kuhn-Klein, Claude (3)
• Kukryniksy (1)
• Kunst, Carl (1)
• Kuntz, Willy Fischer and Milo (1)
• Kawu, Hon (1)
• Katona, Laszlo (1)
• Kolozsvary, Gyorgy (1)
• Kirnig, Paul (1)
• Knecht, Ursula (1)
• Kuznetsov, S. (2)
• Komarov, G. (1)
• Kudryashov, Vladimir (1)
• Kononov, V. (2)
• Kundishev (1)
• Khrumov (1)
• Kagarov, F. (1)
• Kachar, O. (1)
• Kukharuk, L. (1)
• Kovalev & Zharov (1)
• Kravchenko & Kravchenko (1)
• Koidan, L. (2)
• Kisliakova, T. (1)
• Korolev (1)
• Karnaukhova, O. (1)
• Kalarus, Roman (2)
• Kellenberger, Eric (1)
• Keller, Ferdinand (1)
• Ladyagin, V. (2)
• Lafon, J.M. (1)
• Laskoff, Franz (2)
• Lawler, Paul G. (4)
• Leupin, Herbert (40)
• Levy, Jean-Benoit (2)
• Leyendecker, Joseph (1)
• Lichsteiner/Staehelin (2)
• Lindner, Richard (1)
• Lofthouse, Patrick (1)
• Lopatina (1)
• Ludekens, Fred (2)
• Luns, Huib (1)
• Lyushin, V. (1)
• Lebadang (1)
• Lartigue, Dany (2)
• Leskovar, Mari (1)
• Lascaux, Elie (1)
• Le Yaouanc, Alain (2)
• Ledannois, Jean-Marie (1)
• Lebedev, Vladimir (1)
• Lopatin, Yu. (1)
• Lukianov, M. (1)
• Lozenko, A. (1)
• Lutsenko (1)
• Litvinenko (1)
• Lazarev, A. O. (1)
• Litvinenko & Tulinov (1)
• Lyford, Philip (1)
• Lebadang, Hoi (1)
• Laurencin, Marie (1)
• Leger, Fernand (3)
• Lighthouse (1)
• Lucas, Charles (1)
• Lindgren Brothers (2)
• MacLean, Bonnie (2)
• Magagnoli (Maga), Giuseppe (1)
• Maier, Johann Bartist (1)
• Malerba, E. (1)
• Manfredo (1)
• Mangano, Lisa M. (1)
• Mangold, Burkhard (1)
• Marchesi (1)
• Mariscal (1)
• Marlen Perez, Rene Gauch/ (1)
• Martin, Charles (1)
• Martinati, Luigi (4)
• Masson, Andre (5)
• Masters, Frank B. (1)
• Masuda, Coco (1)
• Matisse, Henri (1)
• Matter, Herbert (1)
• Mauzan, Achille (2)
• Mavignier, Almir (3)
• Maviyane-Davies, Chaz (1)
• Mazza, Aldo (1)
• McIntosh, Frank (1)
• Mendell, Pierre (1)
• Metlicovitz, Leopoldo (8)
• Meunier, Georges (1)
• Mieke Rijinders (1)
• Mikhailova, Alla (1)
• Miller, Bill (1)
• Mingozzi Studio (1)
• Mingozzi, Giovanni (2)
• Miro, Joan (5)
• Mlodozeniec, Jan (1)
• Molkenboer, Antonius (1)
• Mondacca (1)
• Monguzzi, Bruno (5)
• Monod, Jean (1)
• Monogram E.D.A. (1)
• Monogram H (1)
• Monogram JA (1)
• Monogram R.M. (1)
• Monogram RBK (1)
• Moos, Carl (1)
• Morach, Otto (1)
• Moreau-Nelaton, Etienne (3)
• Moscoso, Victor (8)
• Moser, Peter (1)
• Mouron, Henri (1)
• Mouse, Stanley (2)
• Mucha, Alphonse (3)
• Mueller, Fridolin (1)
• Muggiani, Giorgio (1)
• Mullarky, Rick (1)
• Muller & Hess (3)
• Muller, Lars (2)
• Muller-Brockmann, Josef (37)
• Murch, Frank (1)
• Museo Civico Luigi Bailo (1)
• Muybridge, Eadward (1)
• Muller, Lars & Monika Gold (1)
• Matyas, Gal (1)
• Mouly, Marcel (1)
• Moor, Dimitri (4)
• Massonet (1)
• Mehely, Ivan (1)
• Monogram DP (1)
• Minenok, S.P. (1)
• Miturich (1)
• Moisienko, S. (1)
• Mikheeva & Bulkin (2)
• Minenok, S. P. (1)
• Monogram JS (1)
• Markovsky, I. V. (1)
• Mekhantiev, V. (1)
• Merkushev, A. F. (1)
• Mueller, Harry (1)
• Miller, Chester R. (1)
• Max, Peter (1)
• Malyi, V. (1)
• Muller, Walter (2)
• Nano, (Silvano Campeggi) (6)
• Napoli, Bruno (1)
• Nathan-Garamond, Jacques (2)
• Nespolo (1)
• Neuberg, Hans (1)
• Nistri, Enzo (9)
• Nitsche, Erik (7)
• Nizzoli, Marcello (1)
• Noviant, Evelyne (1)
• Nuhn, Peter (4)
• Nygaard, Axel (1)
• Nemkova, T (1)
• Nikolaev (1)
• Nazarov (1)
• Nepomniashchii (1)
• Nix, Leo (1)
• Newman, Earl (1)
• Odermatt, Siegfried (6)
• Odermatt/Tissi (4)
• Olbinski, Rafal (1)
• Oliva, Viktor (1)
• Olivetti, Giorgio (3)
• Oppenheim, Louis (1)
• Orr, Alfred Everitt (2)
• Orr, Norman (6)
• Ott, Henri (1)
• Orrby, Gunnar (1)
• Ostroumenskaya, I. V. (1)
• Ogryzko, L. (2)
• Orosz, Istvan (4)
• P., Omnia (1)
• Pagowski, Andrzej (1)
• Palanti, Giuseppe (1)
• Parmeev (1)
• Paus, Herbert (2)
• Peikert, Martin (1)
• Penfield, Edward (1)
• Perceval (1)
• Perry, Alain Weill & Israel (1)
• Petruccelli, Antonio (1)
• Pfeiffer, Walter (6)
• Pfund, Roger (2)
• Piatti, Celestino (1)
• Picasso, Pablo (4)
• Piovano (1)
• Plotnov, A. (1)
• Poliakoff, Serge (3)
• Procka, Elzbieta (1)
• Pryde & Nicholson, The Beggarstaff Brothers (3)
• Przhetslavsky, A. (1)
• Pirtle, Woody (2)
• Palazuelo, Pablo (1)
• Pichette, James (1)
• Patkévitch, Eugene (1)
• Pavel Sokolov-Skalia & Nikolai Radlov (1)
• Popov, s. (1)
• Pogrebinsky & Khenkin (1)
• Presniakov (1)
• Pudelko, Stanislav (1)
• Petryga-Rodionov, I. (1)
• Pilishenko, I. (2)
• Pompiansky, L. (1)
• Palui, d. (1)
• Postnikh, L. (2)
• Potievsky (1)
• Peri, Laszlo (1)
• Pobokov, V. (1)
• Puvis de Chavannes, Pierre (1)
• Partridge, Bernard (1)
• Quarella, Doris (1)
• Ragan, Leslie Darrell (1)
• Raleigh, Henry Patrick (1)
• Rand, Paul (15)
• Rast, H. (1)
• Reichmonte, Giuseppe (1)
• Reisenberg, Sidney H. (1)
• Rennert, Jack (1)
• Resnick, Elizabeth (1)
• Rice, Burton (1)
• Rittmark, Ake (1)
• Rivers, Larry (1)
• Robbe, Manuel (1872-1936) (2)
• Rockwell, Norman (4)
• Rohman, Eric (2)
• Roland-Holst, Richard (5)
• Rowe, Willyum (1)
• Rozen, Jerome (1)
• Rebeyrolle, Paul (1)
• Riopelle, Jean Paul (3)
• Ruano-Llopis, Carlos (1)
• Rouvre, Yves (1)
• Rodo-Boulanger, Graciela (1)
• Rabotnitsky (1)
• Radlov, Nikolai (2)
• Rashatov (1)
• Reshetov, v. m. (1)
• Reid, Jamie (8)
• Rogers, J. (1)
• Roesch, Carl (1)
• Ruegg, Ruedi (1)
• Rambow, Gunter (21)
• Renesch, Edward George (1)
• Saito, Makoto (1)
• Sarkisian, Petr (5)
• Sato, Koichi (2)
• Savary, Robert (3)
• Savignac, Raymond (2)
• Schaad, HP (1)
• Schaeffer, Mead (1)
• Schellenberg (1)
• Scher, Paula (1)
• Schiertz (1)
• Schladfer, Hans (1)
• Schlaikjer, Jes Wilhelm (2)
• Schmidt-Rhen & Engelmann (1)
• Schnackenberg, Walter (3)
• Schraivogel, Ralph (10)
• Schreiber, Georges (1)
• Schuitema, Paul (1)
• Schultess, Emil (2)
• Scotford Jr., John Ryland (2)
• Scott, Howard (1)
• Sepo, (Severo Pozzati) (7)
• Servais, Jacques (1)
• Shepherd, Thomas H. (1)
• Sheridan, John E. (2)
• Siegriest, Louis B. (6)
• Singer, David (21)
• Sironi, Mario (1)
• Skolos & Wedell (1)
• Smith, B. (1)
• Sokolov-Skalia, Pavel (5)
• Solov'ev, M. (5)
• Soubie, Roger (1)
• Spagnoli, A. (1)
• Spear, Gil (1)
• Spring, J. (2)
• Staehelin, Georg (1)
• Starowiezski, Franciszek (1)
• Stefano, G.D. (2)
• Steinlen, Theophile-Alexandre (3)
• Sterner, Albert (2)
• Stevens, Leopold (1)
• Stoecklin, Niklaus (7)
• Studio E2 (1)
• Swarte, Joost (1)
• Shahn, Ben (1)
• Schwabe, Nikolaus (1)
• Steinberg, Saul (1)
• Somorjai, Imre (1)
• Spiro, Eugene (2)
• Spoor, Mary Louise (1)
• Schneider, Otto (1)
• Smith, F. Berkeley (1)
• Shostia (1)
• Sarkisov, s. (1)
• Smirnov, A. (2)
• Savostikova (1)
• Shevtsov, G. I. (1)
• Staroshchuk, T. (1)
• Surianinov, r. (1)
• Simanov, V. (1)
• Surianinov (1)
• Sachkov, V. (7)
• Sarg, Tony (1)
• Smyslov, A. (1)
• Sabinin, P (2)
• Smith, Lawrence Beall (1)
• Spiro, Georges (3)
• Shuzi, Mo (1)
• Sadowski (2)
• Sarkisov, S. (1)
• Sorensen, Eimen (1)
• Schmandt, Hans (1)
• Tapies, Antoni (2)
• Taylor, Fred (2)
• Terechkovitch, Constantin (1)
• Thoni, Hans (1)
• Thorn Prikker, J. (2)
• Tittle, Walter (1)
• Tomaszewski, Henryk (3)
• Toorop, Jan (1)
• Toussaint, Maurice (1)
• Trapp, Willi (1)
• Treidler, Adolph (2)
• Trematore, Severino (1)
• Troxler, Niklaus (33)
• Turner, Michael (1)
• Tuten, Randy (5)
• Tema, Jos (1)
• Ting, Walasse (2)
• Tsarev, Yuri (1)
• Tissi, Rosmarie (9)
• Trubanov (2)
• Till, Walter (3)
• Tarasova, L. (1)
• Tsvik, E. (1)
• Terentiev, O. (3)
• Treidler (1)
• Treccani, Ernesto (1)
• Tepper, Saul (1)
• Testa, Armando (1)
• Underwood, Clarence (1)
• Urbaniec, Maciej (1)
• Utrillo, Don Miguel (1)
• Ubac, Raoul (1)
• Usov, N. (1)
• Uvarov, S. (2)
• Valerio, Roger de (1)
• van Dam, Peter (1)
• van Houweninge, Joachim (1)
• Van Mens, Is. (1)
• Van Tussen Broek, O. (1)
• Vanderhem, P. (2)
• Vantongerloo, George (1)
• Vardimon, Yarom (1)
• Velsen, Cor V. (1)
• Venturino, Gianni (1)
• Vidal, J.A. (1)
• Vila, Emilio (1)
• Villa, Hernando B. (1)
• Villemot, Bernard (2)
• Vincent, Rene (3)
• Vogt, Armin (1)
• von Kreibig, Erwin (1)
• Von Spreckelsen, Johan Otto (2)
• Von Stuck, Franz (2)
• Vyalov, K. (2)
• Vilato, Javier (2)
• van Velde, Bram (2)
• Vernet-Bonfort, Robert (5)
• Vasarely, Victor (1)
• Von Arensburg, Mark (1)
• Vaganov, A. (2)
• Vdovin, V. (2)
• Veshtak (1)
• Voronkova, Olga (1)
• Valsamaki, V. D. (1)
• Volkov, A. (1)
• Vakhitov, Ivan (1)
• Venard, Claude (1)
• Veresha, A. P. (1)
• Van Hout, O. (1)
• Von Axster-Heudhass, Werner (2)
• Vertes, Marcel (1)
• Walkuski, Wieslaw (1)
• Weingart, Wolfgang (1)
• Weller, Don (1)
• Werner, Franz J. (1)
• Wetter, Trix (2)
• Whitcomb, Jon (1)
• Widmer, Jean (1)
• Wiertz, Jupp (5)
• Wijdeveld, Hendrikus (1)
• Willette, Adolphe (5)
• Wilson, Edward A. (1)
• Wilson, Wes (4)
• Wilton, Nicholas (1)
• Windlin, Cornel (2)
• Woodtli, Martin (1)
• Willisegger, Othmar (1)
• Winter, Fritz (1)
• Wilquin (1)
• Walkowski (1)
• Walters, R. (1)
• Youngerman, Jack (1)
• Youker, P. (1)
• Yran, Knut (1)
• Yermakov, V. (2)
• Zagrodzki, Christophe (1)
• Zegler, Arthur (1)
• Zelensky, B. (1)
• Zaikova, o. (1)
• Zaikin, a. (1)
• Pre-1900s (57)
• 1910s (149)
• 1920s (171)
• 1930s (231)
• 1940s (184)
• 1950s (211)
• 1960s (283)
• 1970s (252)
• 1980s (349)
• 1990s (214)
• Black (849)
• Brown (399)
• Fuschia (4)
• Green (591)
• Orange (233)
• Purple (122)
• Silver (26)
• Turquoise (5)
• White (735)
• Yellow (644)
• Advanced Search
• Home Page >
• Subject Primers >

Travel Posters

Explore our world-leading vintage Travel collection.

Railroads , ocean liners , and airplanes were among the technological marvels of the early 20th century that made pleasure travel feasible and luxurious, and they are often featured in vintage travel posters. These innovations sparked a Golden Age of Travel that would last - despite a Great War and a Depression - until the outbreak of World War II. The lithographic poster came into being just as the explosion in pleasure travel was dawning, and this new means of advertising was ideally suited to educate and tempt the consumer. Combining large images and bold text, the vintage travel poster was a uniquely effective medium to inspire travelers to see the world, and posters promoting every mode of transportation and destination became fixtures on the kiosks and the train stations of Europe and America.

Vintage travel posters are one of the most popular areas of poster collecting, providing a range of offerings that will suit every pocketbook and interest. More than any other poster category, they awaken our dreams of adventure, beauty and wanderlust. With the increasing rarity of desirable pre-WWII images by artists like Cassandre , Broders , Cardinaux , Fix-Masseau and Herbert Matter , interest in travel posters of the postwar period are now exploding in popularity.

France : Alo , Bernard , Boucher , Broders , Carlu , Cassandre , Colin , Commarmond , Constant-Duval , Dorival , Georget , Solon , and Soubie Switzerland : Baumberger , Buzzi , Cardinaux , Diggelmann , and Matter Italy : Borgoni and Nizzoli Britain : Cooper , Newbould , Purvis , and Thomas Germany : Etbauer , Fuss , Hohlwein and Wiertz United States : Binder , Eggleston , Galli , Klein , Lawler , McIntosh , and Nason Other : Nielsen & Rasmussen (Denmark), Northfield (Australia), ten Broek (Holland) and many more! Note - Most travel posters are roughly 27 x 40 inches. This international standard simplified distribution of travel posters in different languages for customers worldwide.

-> Shop our leading selection of Vintage Travel Posters .

• International Poster Gallery PO Box 67463 Chestnut Hill MA 02467-9998
• P (617) 375-0076
• [email protected]

Beautiful, Rare & Meaningful Posters from around the Globe.

• New Arrivals
• Gallery Tour
• In The News
• Gallery Exhibitions
• Accessibility
• Poster History
• Collecting Posters
• Country Primers
• Style Primers
• Subject Primers
• Access My Account
• Access My Wish List

© 1997-2024 International Poster Gallery

Original Vintage Posters - We Ship Worldwide

Collection: Original Vintage Travel Posters

Relax by rene gruau, 1952 olympic games helsinki finland, aerolineas argentinas - to bariloche...naturally, air france - afrique occidentale - small, air france - allemagne, air france - europe carlu, air france - europe morvan, air france - extreme orient - boucher - small, air france - mexico colin, air france - paris - nathan, air france - paris arc de triomphe, air france - rome, air france map - blue pink, air france map - burgundy lge, united air lines - great lakes, united air lines - new york statue, united air lines - hawaii canoe, alitalia - servizi aerei per tutto il mondo, american airlines - acapulco, american airlines - arizona, american airlines - boston - kauffer, american airlines - cowgirl, american airlines - detroit, american airlines - new england.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

Meet The Artists Behind Your Favourite Vintage Travel Posters

In my late teens, I bought myself a calendar that was illustrated with vintage travel posters. I was particularly smitten with one for Cuba produced in 1949 by the Cuban Tourist Commission. From that moment I formed a slight obsession with the beautiful artwork created to sell travel in the early days of advertising.

Since becoming a graphic designer I’ve found myself asking “who are the artists behind these fabulous vintage travel poster designs? What was their process? Did they travel to all the places they illustrated?” So, I did a little research into these advertising industry pioneers and this is what I found.

Table of contents

A brief history of the travel poster, joseph binder, donald brun, fred ludekens, abram games, frank newbould, david klein, maurice laban, jan lewitt & george him, harry rogers, james northfield, bernard villemot, edmond maurus, albert solon, frank soltesz, vincent guerra, albert victor eugène brenet, joseph feher, vittorio grassi, otto nielsen, lucien boucher, robert falcucci, georges dorival, roger broders, harry stevens, daphne padden, percy padden, tom eckersley, reginald montague lander.

Modern posters were born in the mid-nineteenth century when a few planets aligned. The first was the development of printing technology, which allowed for mass production of colour images (“mass” being a relative term to today’s standards). The second was countries such as France lifting government censorship of public places. Lastly, mass-produced consumer goods were being advertised in populated urban environments.

By the late nineteenth century, posters had hit their stride in Europe with many fine artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec taking up poster commissions. As the new century dawned, posters grew in popularity and their design became an increasingly respected art form.

Early twentieth-century travel posters were often commissioned by rail lines, and later airlines, to advertise their mode of transport using images of exotic destinations. Poster artwork varied in style as fashions came and went: art nouveau, art deco and modernism were key styles of the travel poster era. Finally, poster art gave way to photography in the 1960s, as printing technology underwent another evolution.

The art of vintage posters has experienced a renaissance in the last two decades, as new generations rediscover the illustrations and paintings of the past. Original travel posters are now highly collectible items. In 2014, Christie’s sold Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Moulin Rouge lithograph  for £314,500, its highest-grossing travel poster in history. I grew up with this image printed on a set of coasters that my mum purchased while travelling in France. For those who aren’t millionaires yet, prints of vintage posters can also be purchased at much more reasonable prices.

The artists behind the posters

Allow me to introduce to you the mysterious talents behind the vintage travel posters you love. This is by no means a definitive list and there are many artists unaccounted for – these are artists behind some of the most recognisable and collectible travel artworks. Sadly, there is very little information available about some of them.

Joseph Binder (1898–1972) trained in lithography and studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts before establishing his own graphic design studio, Vienna Graphics, specialising in advertising and poster design. After visiting the US as a guest lecturer at the Chicago Art Institute and Minneapolis School of Art, he immigrated to New York in 1936. He created modernist masterpieces for American Railroads, American Airlines, and United Airlines such as these.

Swiss illustrator Donald Brun (1909-1999) was a student of one of Switzerland’s first professional calligraphic artists. He apprenticed as a publicity illustrator and took art classes in Basel and Berlin before becoming a freelance artist. Brun created posters for Swissair among others. Though he never stuck to one particular style, my personal favourites are the “picture-in-picture” posters he designed, like those below.

Californian illustrator Stan Galli (1912-2009) may have created your favourite 1950’s poster for United Airlines. Galli studied at the California Art Institute (now the San Francisco Art Institute) before becoming an advertising artist. He worked in various areas from designing postage stamps to Navy instructional manuals over the course of his long career. His posters for United Airlines are among the most collected vintage travel posters today.

Fred Ludekens (1900-1982), was an American artist and illustrator. The Californian had no formal training and worked initially as a billboard painter. Ludekens produced work for magazines and other media. He worked alongside the aforementioned Stan Galli at one time, painting wildlife images for Weyerhauser Timber advertisements. Ludekens created a series of posters for American and United Airlines in the 1950s.

British born designer Abram Games was one of the last of the great poster designers, as the art was lost to offset printing and photography. His early work was often for London Transport and Shell.  After a stint in the British War Office during World War II, Games returned to posters for British Airways, Aer Lingus and EL AL.

British artist Frank Newbould (1887-1951) attended the Bradford College of Art and Camberwell School of Art. He designed many posters for railways and shipping companies, before WWII at which time he became assistant to Abram Games (above) at the war office. Frank Newbould along with the artists, Tom Purvis (below), Austin Cooper, Fred Taylor, Frank Mason were the “Big 5” that for a time were exclusively contracted to design travel posters for LNER (London and Northeastern Railway).

British artist Tom Purvis (1888-1959), attended the Camberwell School of Art. He worked in advertising agency Mather and Crowther before branching out on his own as a freelancer. Between 1923 and 1945 he created over 100 posters for London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), depicting the rail lines destinations in bold, flat colour with little detail. Though Purvis moved away from this style later, reintroducing some detail into his imagery, that vibrant, minimalist style is one of my absolute favourites.

David Klein (1918-2005) created boldly coloured modernist posters. The Texas native studied at the Art Center School (also known as the Art Center College of Design) in Los Angeles. He created illustrations for the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII, then went to live and work in New York City. He created most of his travel-related work between the mid-1950s and ’60s. Klein’s commercial art includes these memorable commissions for TWA.

British freelance illustrator Maurice Laban (1912-1970) created posters during the 1940s through to their dying moments in the 1960s. His vibrant posters for BOAC/Qantas were printed by silkscreen technique and made use of fluorescent opaque inks.

The graphic design duo of Jan Lewitt (1907-1991) and George Him (1900-192) came out of the early ’30s in Warsaw. They relocated to London and worked together through to 1955.

Harry Rogers (1929-2012) was an Australian designer who created several series of Qantas posters from the 1950s through 1970s, utilizing techniques such as paper cutting, collage and watercolour to define each campaign.

Another Australian, James Northfield (1887-1973), was educated in Melbourne. As a commercial artist, Northfield created posters for the Australian National Travel Association to promote Australian destinations to domestic and overseas audiences.

French graphic designer Bernard Villemot (1911-1989) is associated with his work for Air France, Bally, Perrier and Orangina. Villemot initially studied with master art deco poster artist Paul Colin.  His work has been in high demand since his death in 1989.

Edmond Maurus designed art deco posters for French airlines Air Union and Air France between 1925 and 1955. The French artist studied at the Germain Pilon School.

Albert Solon (1897-1973) was also known for his art deco posters. The self-taught artist who became a cartoonist, created posters for airlines during the 1920s and ’30s including Farman, SABENA, Air France, Luft Hansa, Imperial Airways, KLM and l’Aéropostale.

American artist Frank Soltesz (1912-1986) studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and went into newspapers and advertising. The president of TWA in 1945, Jack Frye, offered Soltesz a job creating magazine advertisements which were seen in publications such as Life, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Fortune and Time.

French painter Vincent Guerra is largely a mystery, but his work for Air France and Aerovias Guest after WWII are notable contributions to poster design.

Albert Victor Eugène Brenet (1903-2005), who was born in France and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He travelled for magazine LÍllustration and was appointed official artist for the three French military branches during WWII. Post-war he went into commercial illustration including advertising posters for airlines.

Joseph Feher (1908-1987), a Hungarian born and trained artist, studied at the Academy Bella Arte in Florence, Italy and Bauhaus, Germany. He also obtained a scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the late 1920s. From there, his work in commercial art and portraiture began. Feher taught in Chicago and at the Academy of Arts in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was also flown around the continental United States by United Airlines, to paint watercolours of cities for ads and calendars until about 1949.

Italian painter Vittorio Grassi (1878-1958) started out at the Bank of Italy, testing typographic techniques as a means of counterfeit prevention, while he practised his landscape painting. He later moved into commercial work, designing stamps and posters for the Italian Government Tourist Board and the Italian Railroad System among other public agencies.

Otto Nielsen is the Danish painter who designed travel posters for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) between 1954 and 1976 in his unique oil painting style.

Parisian born artist Jean Even (1910-1986) studied at the Ecole Boulle and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Even favoured gouache for its matt colours, speedy drying and compatibility with light paper, all qualities excellent for travel.

Another Air France favourite is Lucien Boucher (1889-1971), whose design career began at the Ceramique de Sevres. He debuted a the Salon d’Automne in 1921 before becoming a member two years later. He exhibited at the Salon de L’Araignée in 1924 through 190. Boucher produced lithographs, wood engravings and watercolour drawings. In 1935 he began working for Air France and gained a reputation for his planispheres – a flat representation of the earth.

Robert Falcucci (1900-1989), was a French illustrator and painter who studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. Falcucci spent time directing magazine advertisements for Renault; illustrated a cover of L-Illustration magazine; and worked with couturier Paul Poiret. Arguably, his best-known work his program artwork for the Monte Carlo Rally, and posters for rail line Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean (PLM).

Georges “Géo” Dorival (1879-1968) was a French poster artist who also specialised in glass plates and shadow puppet theatre. He studied at the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris. His best-known travel work includes posters for destinations such as Venice, Cote d’Azur, Mont Blanc, Heyeres and Brittany, as well as the railroads such as the Chemins de Fer de l’Etat.

Parisian born, Roger Broders, was best known for his travel posters of fashionable French resorts of the 1920s and ’30s. Broders created simplified imagery with bold, flat fields of colour and minimal lettering in contemporary typefaces of their time. The artist was commissioned by The Paris Lyon Mediteranée Company (PLM), who sponsored his travel so that he could visit the destinations he was to illustrate. He was said to have been a cigar aficionado, foodie and lover of cafe culture – aside from the cigars, he sounds like my kind of man!

Kurt Wirth (1917-1996) was a Swiss graphic designer and illustrator. He started his own studio in 1937 and was a co-founder of the Swiss Graphic Designers Association. Wirth is known for creating modernist posters for Swissair and Swiss Federal Railways. He also taught at the School of Art of Bern.

Born in Manchester, England in 1919, Harry Stevens started his design career with no formal art training. He designed posters for London Transport from 1960-1978 and various other high-profile clients. He won the Council of Industrial Design Poster Award in 1963 and became a fellow of the Society of Industrial Artists.

Another British artist who created popular mid-century travel posters was Daphne Padden (1927-2009). The daughter of Percy Padden, a travel poster artist of the 1920s and 30s, Daphne worked as a commercial designer before moving into fine art later in her career. She studied at Epsom & Ewell School of Art and earned a National Diploma in Design for painting. Daphne’s freelance clients included the British Transport Commission, P&O Orient Lines and British European Airways.

Now seems a good time to mention more of Daphne’s dad, Percy (1885-1965) . There doesn’t seem to be much information about Mr Padden. What we do know is that he studied at the Royal College of Art and mostly worked for the post office, producing posters advertising cruises on mail boats. 

Lancashire-born in 1914, Tom Eckersley, was commissioned by Transport for London, National Savings Bank, Guinness and Gillette among other big names. He studied at the Salford School of Art, where he met student Eric Lombers. Graduating in 1934, Eckersley began a freelance graphic design career in London, in partnership with Lombers. They soon won commissions by London Transport and within a few years were both lecturing at the Westminster School of Art.

Eckersley’s career was interrupted by WWII when he enlisted in the R.A.F. and worked as a cartographer. He also produced “war effort” posters during this time. After the war, he continued to teach and take commissions for poster designs. Eckersley became a fellow of the Society of Typographic Designers and Society of Artists and Designers, along with an honorary fellow of Manchester College of Art & Design and the Royal Colleg of Art.

Born in London in 1913, Lander received his art education at Hammersmith School of Art. He became the chief designer and studio manager at Ralph Mott Studio during the 1930s. Lander produced posters for GWR, LNER, British Railways and the Post Office. He worked in gouache and watercolour.

Image via Original Railway Posters

Image via invaluable.com

Where to buy posters and prints

Galerie 123 , Switzerland

Affiche Passion , France

The Ross Art Group , USA (New York)

The Vintage Poster , USA (California)

International Poster Gallery , USA (Boston)

Antikbar , UK

All Posters

Vintagraph, USA

Printism , Australia

What is your favourite vintage travel poster? Drop a comment below and let me know.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting acquainted with the artists that inspired travellers of yesteryear and found a little duende of your own. If so, you might also enjoy this artful history of travel postcards .

Peace, love & inspiring travel,

Art Moderne in Cleveland – Coast Guard Station #219

The unique art of lotus weaving in myanmar.

My favourite is my 1950 karnten Austria by an artist called Ludwig depicting a view of a beautiful lake from a hotel . It has such vibrant colours and gives you a sense that you are actually there. For a poster toned that takes great skill . But now I’m thinking about my other posters and it’s like having children do you have a favourite hahaha. Thanks for your time to write about the artists and posters. I still have a few I am trying to find out about.

Hi David, Your Karnten poster sounds wonderful. It can be challenging to find info about the poster artists. It’s a shame considering how talented they were! I am always updating my posts so if you have an artist you’d like me to look into, let me know. I can’t promise I’ll turn up anything you haven’t already, but I would be willing to have a go.

Thanks for stopping by Duende, Zoë (aka Madam ZoZo)

Hi there. Love the site. I wondered if you could help me? I love a poster for Continenral Airways advertising Los Angeles which has a glamorous couple on the beach- the lady has golden hair in the style of a Hollywood star and there is a plane flying overhead.. It looks late ’50s to me. Would you know who the artist would be? My email address is xxx. Thanks Paul Moody

That is a tricky one. I haven’t been able to get much info at all on that particular poster. I agree it looks like the late ’50s given the style and fashion depicted. Continental used that particular logo between 1937-1960 so it is unlikely to be later. I found an aircraft buff who proposed the plane pictured was a DC-7B which also fits with the 1950s timeframe. Many of the well-known artists of that period seem to have been tied up with other airlines at the time and probably had exclusivity agreements. I couldn’t confirm anything further. Should I happen across more details, I’ll let you know.

Zoe aka Madam ZoZo

GET FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS $35 OR MORE!     US STANDARD SHIPPING ONLY

Classic vintage posters, vintage travel posters | hundreds of vintage maps, airline, and railway posters.

    CART

• 1-800-222-7327
• Image Licensing
• Order Status

Airlines Travel Posters

Pan american airways - aviation posters.

Fly to the South Seas Isles, via Pan American Airways

PanAm Travel Poster, c.1940's by Paul George Lawler

$12.98 - $199.98

Pan American: Fly to the Caribbean by Clipper

Mark Von Arenburg c.1940's

Fly To Hawaii by Clipper, Pan American World Airways

Mark Von Arenburg, c.1940's

New York USA by Clipper Pan American Airways - Boeing 377

Vintage Airline Poster

London - Double Decker Buses, Bovril and Schweppe - Pan American World Airways

Pan Am Hawaii by Jet, Pineapple Head

Travel Poster by Phillips

Thailand by Clipper - Land of Beauty and Romance - Royal Barge - Wat Arun - Pan American World Airways

Vintage Aviation Poster

Havana, Cuba - Pan American Airways (PAA)

Kerne Erickson

Pan American: Scandinavia by Clipper

Travel Poster c.1951

Pan American: Flying Down to Rio

Christ Statue by Paul George Lawler c.1930's

Pan American, Hawaii - Surfers Holding Hands

Aaron Fine c.1959

Norway Pan Am, Land of the Midnight Sun

Ivar Gull c.1939

Pan American: Fly to Europe by Clipper

Pan American: Germany der Rhine

Travel Poster c.1950's

Hong Kong, China Pan Am American Traditional Sail Boat and Temples

A. Amspoker

Great Britain Pan Am - Palace of Westminster Parade

Mark Von Arenburg

Guatemala by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Tikal Mayan Ruins

Vintage Airline Travel Poster by Mark Von Arenburg c. 1949

Pan Am Fly to Cuba - Holiday Isles of the Tropic

Julius Seyler c.1950

Pan Am - Jamaica by Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Skyway to Inca Land - Pan American Airways (PAA)

Paul George Lawler c.1938

India and Pakistan by Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Vintage Airline Travel Poster by Baskerville c. 1949

Pan Am Bangkok - Thai Dancer Thailand

A. Amspoker c. 1950's

Pan American Nassau Bahamas by Clipper

MarkVon Arenburg c.1950's

Pan Am American Stewardess

Pan American Airways, Hawaii Hula Skirt

Vintage Travel Poster

Italy via Jet Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Italian Carabinieri Policeman and the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Pan Am Ireland Castle

Edward McKnight Kauffer c.1953

Hawaii by Flying Clipper, Pan American Airways System

Pan American Travel Poster, c.1940's

Pan American Airlines, France and All Of Europe, Eiffel Tower, Painter

A. Amspoker c.1950's

Pan American: Caribbean by Clipper

Jean Carlu c.1958

Pan American: Holland Windmill

Pan American: Beirut - Lebanon by Clipper

Vintage Travel Poster c.1950's

Fly to Australia and New Zealand - Koala

Pan Am Travel Poster c. 1950's

Haiti - Pan American World Airways

Vintage World Travel Poster by E. Lafond c. 1950's

Pan American: Paris by Clipper Arch of Triumph

Travel Poster c.1951 Arc de Triomphe

Pan American: Rome by Clipper - Vatican and Coliseum

Mexicana Airlines via Pan American: Yucatan

Travel Poster c.1960s

Bermuda - via Pan American World Airways

Pan American: Quaint Quito - In the Ecuadorian Andes

Pan American: Mexico

Travel Poster c.1968

Pan American World Airways - England And All Of Europe, Big Ben and British Flag

Jet Clippers to Caribbean - Pan American World Airways

Chile - Plaza de Armas - Santiago - Pan American World Airways - c. 1955

Pan American Hawaii, Sun & Surf

Surfing Travel Poster c.1957

Singapore Pan Am - Bike Taxi Pedicab

Pan American Airways Africa

Vintage Travel Poster, c.1949

Pan American Airways Africa, Leopard, Wildlife

Pan American, Siam Buddhist Monks - Thailand

Charles Baskerville c.1950's

See the Philippines - Pan American World Airways

Pan American Airways Transpacific Flight

Paul George Lawler c.1940's

Guatemala via Pan Am - Is Only One Day Away

India Pan Am

Travel Poster c. 1950's

Glasgow Scotland by Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Australia - New Zealand - Fly by Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Japan by Jet Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Children's Day - Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

Pan Am Brussels by Clipper

Istanbul Turkey and the Near East - Pan American World Airways

Japan - Japanese Geisha Dancer in Kimono - Pan American World Airways

Pan Am, Fly to Glamorous Brazil

Pan Am Japan, Spring in Kyoto - Geishas

Pan Am Bermuda

Ray Ameijide c.1950's

Europe - Only 7 Jet Magic Hours from New York - Pan American World Airways

Pan Am, Bermuda Sailboats via Jet Clippers

David Pollak c.1950's

Pan Am, Routes of the Flying Clipper

L. Helguera c.1941

Fly to Argentina - Pan American World Airways System - c. 1951

Constantin Alajálov

Fly to South America - Pan American World Airways - c. 1952

Pan American - South America by Clipper - Christ the Redeemer statue Corcovado - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Russia - Pan American World Airways - Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow - Onion Domes

Fly by Clipper to Guatemala via Pan American World Airways - Native Indian Woman, Pacaya Volcano

The Orient by Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Charles Baskerville

Pan American, Hawaii - Lei and Diamond Head

A. Amspoker c.1959

Pan Am American Captain

Pan American: Round the World by Clipper

Mark Von Arenburg c.1949

Fly to Europe - New Rainbow Service - Pan American World Airways - Stamps of European Countries - Philately

Fly by Clipper to South Africa - Where Summer Spends the Winter - Pan American World Airways

Peru - Pan American World Airways - Bullfighting Matador - c. 1946

Carlos Ruano Llopis

Fly Round South America - Pan American World Airways System - c. 1950's

London by Clipper - Queen's Royal Household Cavalry - Pan American World Airways

Germany - Fly Pan American Airways (PAA) - Bavaria Neuschwanstein Castle

Edward McKnight Kauffer

Pan Am - Japan via Pan American Airways, Geisha with Fan

Edward McKnight Kauffer c.1950's

Turkey - For the Best - Pan American World Airways

Fiji Tahiti - Dancing Native and Statue - Pan American World Airways

Vintage Aviation Poster by A. Amspoker c. 1960

Round the World - Kites - via Pan American World Airways

Dong Kingman

Fly by Clipper to Near East, India and Pakistan, Orient - Pan American

The Americas Served by, Pan American Air

Kenneth W. Thompson c.1948

Pan American Marseilles - Gateway to the Riviera

Jean Carlu c.1949

Hawaii By Clipper, Pan American Airways, Hula Girl

John Atherton, c.1950

Pan American Airways Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Christ on the Cross

La Motta, c.1955

Europe Pan Am, Beefeater Guards

Mexico - Tomorrow - via Pan American Airways (PAA) - Flag of Mexico

Paul George Lawler

Kairo (Cairo) Egypt - via Beirut with Clipper Planes - Cheops Pyramid - Pan American World Airways - and Middle East Airlines

Pan American World Airways - Calcutta by Clipper, India

America by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Fly with the Leader - United States National Bald Eagle

Discover Jamaica by Clipper - British West Indies - Pan American World Airways - Pirates Burying Treasure Chest

Pictorial Map of North & South America - Flying Clipper Ships Routes - Pan American World Airways

Kenneth Thompson

Fly to Hawaii - Hula Dancers at the Airport

Pan Am, Hawaii by Clipper - Hula Girl

Al Moore c.1962

Pan American Airlines To Paris, France - Woman with Flower Basket

Jean Carlu c.1950's

London by Clipper - Beefeater Yeomen of the Guard

Aloha Hawaii, Fly Pan American Airways

Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1953

South America - Native with Llama - Pan American World Airways

Vintage Airline Travel Poster by A. Amspoker c. 1950's

Fly to Europe - European Icons - The System Of The Flying Clippers - Pan American World Airways

Jet ‘Round South America - Pan American World Airways - Gaucho (Cowboy) - c. 1960's

Vintage Airline Travel Poster

South America by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Argentinian Gaucho (Horseman) swinging Boleadoras

Brazil - by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Coat of Arms

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Oba-Oba (Oh Boy! Oh Boy!) Samba Dancers - Pan American World Airways

L'Afrique par Clipper (Africa by Clipper) - Pan American World Airways - African Cheetah

Voyagez vers les U.S.A. par PAA (Travel to the USA by PAA) - New York par Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Fly PAA to the USA - New York by Clipper - Pan American Airways - Atlas Statue at Rockefeller Center

Visit Cuba - Pan American Airways (PAA) - Havana Bay - Morro Cabana

Over Paris, France - Pan American World Airways - Eiffel Tower - Boeing 377 Stratocruiser

Over Oahu, Hawaii - Pan American World Airways - Douglas DC-4 Clipper - Diamond Head Crater, Waikiki Beach

Paris - Europe - via Pan American World Airways - Eet mus' be a very marvelous Airline!

Fly Pan American to Hawaii - Pan American Airways - Surfer at the beach

Fly Round South America - Pan American World Airways - Grace Airways - Native Drummer

South America - Pan American World Airways - Rio De Janerio, Brazil - Christ the Redeemer Statue

Europe - Fly by Clipper - Pan American World Airways

Pan Am Scandinavia Viking Ship

Jean Carlu c. 1950's

Fly with the Leader - to 6 Continents and around the World - Pan American World Airways

Brazil - Carnival in Rio - Pan American World Airways

William Linzee Prescott

Pan American India and the Orient - Taj Mahal

Get a Jet Start Round South America - via Pan American World Airways - c. 1957

Ireland by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - George Bernard Shaw

England - Pan American World Airways - Red Head Girl c.1960's

Hawaii - Pan American World Airways - Hawaiian Surfer Boys Waiting for Waves c. 1971

Hawaii - Pan American World Airways - Hawaiian Surfer c. 1975

The Progress of Transportation - Pan American World Airlines Air Routes - c. 1946

Hawaii - Pan American - c. 1968

New Zealand - Via Pan American Airways - Mount Cook, Southern Alps - c. 1940

Fly to Chile - Via Pan American World Airways - c. 1936

Havana, Cuba - Pan American World Airways - Cuban Rumba Dancer - c. 1950's

New Zealand - Pan American World Airways - Native Maori Warrior and Tiki - c. 1955

Washington D.C. - Pan American World Airways - United States Capitol Building - c. 1955

Hawaii - by Flying Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Hawaiian Rainforest Girl - c. 1970's

First Commercial Round-the-World Flight - Pan American World Airways - Lockheed Constellation - c. 1947

John T. McCoy

The Flying Clipper Ships - Pan American Airways - Over Sea, Over Land - c. 1935

Kenneth W. Thompson

Rangoon (Yangon) Burma - Pan American World Airways - Lion Chinthe Statue at Shwedagon Pagoda - c. 1955

Routes of the Famous Flying Clipper Ships - Caribbean Area Map - Pan American Airways System - c. 1930

Bermuda in 5 Hours - Pan American Airways - Imperial Airways - c. 1937

Asia - Wings Over the World - Pan American Airways System - Chinese Pagoda - c. 1930's

South America - Wings Over the World - Pan American Airways System - Douglas DC-3 - c. 1930's

American Stars & Stripes - Pan American Airways (PAA) - Boeing 377 Stratocruiser - c. 1947

Serving the Americas Since 1928 - Pan American World Airways - c. 1949

Sascha Maurer

To Mexico by Air! - Pan American Airways System - Pico de Orizaba (Citlaltépetl) Mountain - c. 1937

Argentina - Cow Head - c. 1955

Larry Segall

Fly Abroad Now.. Pay Later - Pan American Airways - c. 1956

Fly PAA - Pan American Airways - The System of the Flying Clippers - c. 1950

Round the World, Round the Clock - via Pan American World Airways - c. 1955

For Quick Results, Ship By Clipper Cargo - Pan American World Airways - Egyptian Sphinx and Pyramids - c. 1949

New York - 6.5 Hours to London - 7 to Paris - Jet Clipper Pan American World Airways - c. 1958

Fly to the Philippines and the Orient by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - c. 1947

Mexico - via Mexicana de Aviación - Pan American World Airways - Bull Fighter - c. 1950

The Rainbow to Europe - Pan American World Airways - c. 1953

Dixie Clipper - First Transatlantic Passenger Flight - Pan American Airways - Boeing B-314 - c. 1939

Philippine Clipper Arrives Hong Kong Oct. 1936 - Pan American Airways - Martin M-130

The Routes of the Flying Clipper Ships - Pan American Airways PAA - c. 1935

Brazil - Pan American World Airways - Beach and Sun - c. 1975

To Europe - In Less than 7 Hours - Pan American World Airways - c. 1959

Paris, France - Pan American World Airways - A Glass of Wine - c. 1958

Tahiti - Pan American World Airways - Tahitian Beauty - c. 1964

Bali - Pan American World Airways - Balinese Rice Terraces - c. 1971

Ivan Chermayeff

Japan - Pan American World Airways - Meditating Monks - c. 1971

Saigon, Vietnam - Pan American World Airways - Ho Chi Minh City - c. 1955

Come to Haiti - Bicentennial Exposition - Pan American World Airways - c. 1949

Walter Bomar

Thailand - Thai Dancer - Pan American World Airways - c. 1970's

USA - Smiling Cowgirl - Pan American World Airways - c. 1970's

Wings to America - Via Pan American Airways - Statue of Liberty, New York - c. 1940

Bermuda by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Mermaid with Lily Flowers - c. 1947

Boris Artzybasheff

Fly to Alaska - by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - Native Totem Pole - c. 1947

New York - Pan American World Airways - Brooklyn Bridge, Twin Towers - c. 1975

World Route Map - Pan American World Airways - The System of the Flying Clippers - c. 1947

Richard Edes Harrison

Portugal and Spain by Clipper - Matador - Bullfighter - Pan American World Airways - c. 1958

Wings to Guatemala - Pan American World Airways (PAA) - c. 1938

Peru - Pan American World Airlines - c. 1950's

South Africa by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - c. 1951

Pan American World Airways - Sikorsky S-38 - First Airmail Flight - Charles Lindbergh - c. 1929

Dublin Horse Show - Pan American World Airways - c. 1954

Olive Whitmore

The Andes of Ecuador - South America - Pan American Airways (PAA) - c. 1939

Peru of the Incas - Pan American Airways (PAA) - Machu Picchu - c. 1938

Middle East (Medio Oriente) - Camel Rider - Pan American World Airways - c. 1950's

Caribbean (Caraibas) - Pan American World Airways - c. 1950's

South America (Amerique Du Sud) - Pan American World Airways - c. 1960's

Belgian Congo Inaugural Service - Douglas DC-4 - Pan American World Airways - c. 1946

Alaska - Totem Pole, Eskimo Child - Pan American World Airways - c. 1955

Aaron Amspoker

World Route - Pan American World Airways - c. 1945

New York City - Brooklyn Bridge - Pan American World Airways

Bangkok - The Grand Palace - Pan American World Airways

Australia - Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera - Pan American World Airways

Germany - Pfalzgrafenstein Castle - Pan American World Airways

London - Big Ben - Pan American World Airways

Hong Kong - Harbour - Pan American World Airways

Rome the Eternal City - Pan American World Airways - Spanish Steps

San Francisco - Chinatown - Pan American World Airways

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Pan American World Airways

Hawaii - Hula Dancers - Pan American World Airways - c. 1956

Norman Rockwell

Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar - Pan American World Airways - c. 1941

Australia & New Zealand by Clipper - Pan American World Airways - c. 1950

South Pacific - Pan American World Airways - c. 1971

Fly by Clipper South Africa - Pan American World Airways - c. 1952

Jean Carlu and Jacques Dubois

Australia - Koala Bears - Pan American World Airways - c. 1964

Myanmar (Burma) - Burmese, Women of the World - Pan American World Airways - c. 1964

Hawaii - Kamehameha Statue - Hawaiian Hula - Pan American World Airways - c. 1960's

Lillian Sader

Lockheed Martin Constellation ‘Connie’ - Pan American World Airways - c. 1940's

The Philippines - Pan American World Airlines - c. 1950

USA Disney World - Pan American World Airways - c. 1970

• Home & Kitchen
• Posters & Prints

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Vintage Travel Poster - General view Moscow Russia 24 X 18

Product information, looking for specific info, customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

No customer reviews

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices