FRANK WOOTTON (1914-1998) AND NOW - ROLLS - ROYCE / SPEED AND COMFORT IN THE AIR / TRANS - AUSTRALIA AIRLINES. Circa 1954.
40x25 inches, 101 1/2x63 1/2 cm.
Condition B+: restored losses and overpainting in margins and image; light staining in top margin.
This poster originally appeared advertising British European Airways, bearing the slogan, "Fly the Rolls-Royce way to London." "The turbo-prop Vickers Viscount, powered with Rolls-Royce engines, was in large measure responsible for the enormous growth of BEA . . . a turbo-prop, the propellers are driven by a jet engine, which was an important stage in the transition from propeller to jet power . . . [this poster] links a fine aircraft with the universally respected Rolls-Royce motor car" (Riding the Skies p. 118). Trans-Australia Airlines was formed in 1946 and merged with Qantas in 1992. They began operating the Vickers Viscount in 1954. This is a rare Australian variant. British Aviation Posters p. 152 (var), Airways p. 133 (var), Riding the Skies p. 119 (var), L'Histoire de l'Aviation p. 173 (var).