Swann Auction Galleries' sale of Ocean Liner and other travel posters and memorabilia saw a number of lots coast to success, last week (March 4).
Mile-high sales included a Pan-American Airways large metal model of a B-314 Flying Boat from the last quarter of the 19th century.
 AM Cassandre's 1928 poster for New Statendam's Holland-America line, sold for $24,000 |
The model's final hammer price far exceeded its 35 ½ inches wing span and $1,500-2,500 estimate, ascending to a final value of $6,480.
As we reported in our sale preview, highlights among the posters included a 1928 masterpiece commissioned for ocean liner company New Statendam's Holland-America line.
Painted by AM Cassandre (the pseudonym of artist Adolphe Mouron, 1901-1968), the 40 ½ by 31 inches work bears slight tears and creases.
Nevertheless, it doubled its lower $12,000 estimate, steaming ahead to a remarkable $24,000.
Historic travel posters are a strong collectors' niche - often enjoyed by collectors or investors who have frequented the advertised destination, or mode of travel.
 This Pan-American Airways B-314 Flying Boat model sold for $6,480 |
The last successful posters sale was the Ski Sale held at Christie's, last January, featuring a collection of ski and travel posters related to the sport.
By an anonymous artist, a 1913 colour lithograph of the Royal-Hotel & Winter Palace, in the Swiss holiday region of Gstaad, sold for �22,500 - more than double its high estimate.
Bloomsbury also held an auction of vintage travel posters in November, 2009. It featured works by noted artists including Toulouse-Lautrec.
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