Judith Miller on vintage railway travel posters

Not just for the holidays, vintage railway travel posters have perennial appeal, says Judith Miller.

Man or horse powered railways on tracks of wood or stone can be traced back at least 500 years, but were generally only used for the movement of mined substances such as coal. Modern systems utilising highly pressurised steam power were introduced in England during the early 1800s, and these people-carrying locomotives remained the main form of mechanical land transport for the following century. The Bank Holiday Act of 1871, the expansion of the wealthier middle class, and the reduction in the cost of travel as the network grew all led to an explosion in the number of people taking breaks. Posters were used to publicise these trips, and despite the arrival of television advertising in the 1950s, they remained a viable promotional tool during this period.

ABOVE (left-right): Welsh map and sports vignettes, £250-£350; c1930 design for PLM, £1,000- £1,500; French tennis poster for SNCF, c1925, £600-£950.

Designs tended not to feature images of trains or railways; instead, most aimed at luring people away from their everyday lives by displaying brightly coloured, sometimes exotic vistas unlike any to be witnessed in the cities. Subjects included ships or hotels; golfing, tennis and yachting scenes; and picturesque town, seaside and countryside panoramas. In particular, views of the rolling hills of England tend to be favoured by collectors, as are verdant destinations in Europe. For example, PLM was the Paris to Lyon and the Mediterranean railway – and posters for evocative locations along its routes are highly sought after.

ABOVE (left-right): Colourful Art Deco design for PLM, £1,200-£1,500; Slightly damaged British poster for NER, £150-£200; PLM poster of the ruins of the Roman Theatre at Arles, £40-£60.

Artwork by designers such as Cassandre (Adolphe Mouron), Frank Brangwyn, and Tom Purvis will usually be popular, particularly Cassandre, whose work can fetch thousands of pounds. However, the visual appeal of the image is often the primary indicator to value as many collectors wish to display these posters in their homes.

Tips for collectors

• Striking, brightly coloured designs that conjure up the glamour of travel or the location are desirable, particularly Art Deco examples.
• Along with railway enthusiasts, the subject matter can also interest specific collectors, such as tennis and golf aficionados; or residents of (or regular visitors to) the advertised destination.
• As aesthetic appeal is paramount, condition is hugely important. However, as many posters were folded in storage before they became collectable, creases are acceptable and can often be removed by a professional restorer.
• Tears extending into the image or any damage that seriously mars the surface of the poster will considerably reduce its value and desirability.
• Onslows (01258 488838, onslows.co.uk) and Bloomsbury Auctions (020 7495 9494, bloomsburyauctions.com) hold regular auctions of posters.

FEATURE JUDITH MILLER PHOTOGRAPHS ONSLOWS, BLOOMSBURY AUCTIONS NEW YORK
Featured in the July 2011 issue of Period Living

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