A selection of Golden Age travel posters, featuring iconic designs from the 1920s and 1930s, will be highlighted in Ewbank’s Vintage Posters auction on July 25th, 2025. This auction promises to showcase a collection of rare and valuable pieces that encapsulate the glamour and allure of train travel, cruise liners, and air travel during the …
Golden Age of Travel Posters Set for Auction
A selection of Golden Age travel posters, featuring iconic designs from the 1920s and 1930s, will be highlighted in Ewbank’s Vintage Posters auction on July 25th, 2025. This auction promises to showcase a collection of rare and valuable pieces that encapsulate the glamour and allure of train travel, cruise liners, and air travel during the peak of their popularity.
Notable Posters in the Auction
1. Durham L.N.E.R. ‘It’s Quicker By Rail’ (1930)
- Artist: Tom Purvis
- Estimate: £1,500-£3,000
- A linen-backed Quad Royal Travel Poster, measuring 39¼ x 49½ inches, designed by Tom Purvis, one of the leading poster artists of the time. This stunning piece features bold and striking imagery that highlights the speed and convenience of rail travel during the 1930s.
2. Glamis Castle, Kirriemuir – ‘It’s Quicker by Rail’
- Artist: Cecil King
- Estimate: £1,000-£2,000
- Another linen-backed poster from the same period, this piece promotes the LMS and LNER services with a beautiful depiction of Glamis Castle. At 25 x 39¾ inches, it’s a quintessential representation of Scotland’s scenic beauty tied to rail travel.
3. London Baghdad / Simplon Orient Express (1931)
- Artist: Roger Broders
- Estimate: £1,000-£1,500
- This Paris-printed poster captures the exotic appeal of the London to Baghdad journey aboard the Simplon Orient Express, featuring an artistic rendition of Ctesiphon, an ancient city in Iraq. Measuring 24½ x 39 inches, it’s a classic example of Broders’ work promoting international luxury travel.
4. Travel Cunard White Star – The Western Highlands of Scotland (1935)
- Artist: Tom Gilfillan
- Estimate: £800-£1,200
- A beautiful linen-backed design promoting Cunard White Star’s Royal Route Steamers, this poster captures the scenic beauty of Scotland. Measuring 24¾ x 40 inches, it reflects the golden era of sea voyages.
Other Featured Posters
The auction also includes several earlier designs from the early 20th century, reflecting the transition from land and sea travel to air travel:
- Windsor by Motor-Bus (1920) – Estimate: £300-£500
- Kingston Vale by Tram (1915) – Estimate: £300-£500
- Paris St. Lazare A Londres (1914) – Estimate: £250-£350
- Fly BOAC Switzerland (1950s) – Estimate: £300-£500
The Appeal of Travel Poster Art
Andrew Ewbank, Senior Partner at Ewbank’s, highlighted the enduring appeal of travel posters:
“As the artists commissioned to design these posters, and the designs themselves show, poster art was taken seriously from the start. Attractive, enticing, artistic, nostalgic and often with superb graphic elements, it’s not surprising that travel posters appeal to so many collectors. They also have tremendous ‘wall power’, and pound for pound can be a particularly appealing alternative to traditional art as a decorative alternative for the home.”
These posters are not just collectible art but have a distinct nostalgic and decorative appeal, often offering graphic elegance and cultural significance that resonates with both collectors and those looking to enhance their homes with something unique.
Live Online Bidding
Live online bidding for this auction will be available at www.ewbankauctions.co.uk, making it accessible to bidders worldwide.
Whether you’re an avid collector of travel memorabilia or simply looking to own a piece of Golden Age travel art, this auction offers a rare opportunity to acquire iconic posters that showcase the grandeur and elegance of travel from a bygone era.
