Jean Strebelle

Circa 1950 original travel - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Circa 1950

The circa 1950 original travel poster for South America by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines featuring Rio de Janeiro is a striking piece of mid-century promotional art designed to captivate ...

This enchanting original circa 1950 airline poster by French naval officer and artist Luc-Marie Bayle was created for TAI (Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux), one of France’s most prestigious intercontinental airlines prior to its merger into UTA. The poster presents a richly illustrated planisphère (world map), delicately blending cartographic accuracy with whimsical fantasy. Bayle’s meticulous hand creates a double-hemisphere projection filled with lively imagery: from hot-air balloons and caravels to mythical creatures, medieval compass roses, and aeronautical routes in vibrant red and blue lines tracing TAI’s global flight network. Above the map sits the golden-winged TAI insignia, flanked by vintage flying machines...

The circa 1950 original poster by Lucien Boucher, Air France Réseau Aérien Mondial, is a notable example of mid-20th-century commercial art designed to promote the global air routes of Air France. Lucien Boucher, a renowned French illustrator and poster artist, became closely associated with Air France due to his series of beautifully crafted world map posters, often referred to as "planispheres." These maps were produced between the 1930s and 1960s, highlighting the growing reach of Air France as international air travel expanded after World War II. Boucher's work is known for its combination of cartographic precision and artistic creativity. His Air France posters were not just functional tools for navigation but were also designed to evoke a sense of adventure and the allure of global travel. They capture the optimism of an era when air travel was becoming more accessible and increasingly viewed as the future of international transportation. In this particular poster, Boucher uses artistic elements like vibrant colors, symbolic depictions of different regions, and various modes of transportation to showcase Air France’s extensive global routes. The poster's style reflects the influence of both Art Deco and traditional mapmaking, blending modernity with classical touches. The planes are seen flying across the map, connecting continents, while small details like ships, animals, and historical figures embellish the poster, each representing the diverse cultures and histories of the regions Air France serviced. These posters were often printed by French lithography studio Perceval, known for its high-quality production, further enhancing the visual appeal of Boucher’s work. The Réseau Aérien Mondial map posters are not just travel advertisements but also collectible pieces of art, highly valued by collectors of vintage aviation...

The circa 1950 original poster for Amsterdam by Koen van Os is an elegant and striking example of mid-20th century graphic design, blending modernist visual simplicity with a strong ...

Original vintage KLM airline advertising poster - Caring hands / Betreuende Hande - featuring a great design showing the arms of a pilot in a blue and gol...

Original vintage advertising poster - Your Freight by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - featuring a great mid-century design of a double propeller freigh...

Original vintage travel poster for Canada servizi plurissetimanali / multiple weekly services with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines featuring a colourful ...

Original vintage train travel poster - Visitez La Hollande Chemins de Fer Neerlandais / Visit Holland Dutch Railways - featuring great artwork by Arthur Goldsteen (1908-1985), depict...