Nov 10, 2003 - Sale 1984

Sale 1984 - Lot 43

Price Realized: $ 2,300
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
J. F. BUTLER WORLD CRUISE. 1924.
421/2x281/2 inches.
Condition B+: creases and minor tears in margins; creases in image; mounted on old linen.
An early cross-promotional piece for a 133 day cruise around the world from two giants in their fields: The American Express Company and The International Mercantile Marine Company. The poster is a brightly colored image depicting a giant liner beneath a map of the world, gloriously arrayed like clouds in the twilight sky and illuminated by the setting sun. The Red Star Line, like the majority of lines at the time, including the White Star, the American Line and the Leyland Line, was owned by The International Mercantile Marine Company. Formed in 1902 by J. P. Morgan, the IMMC had a fleet of approximately 130 ships that could easily run routes for more than one line during their career. The Belgenland (at one time a White Star ship) began its career with Red Star in 1923 as a luxury liner, and later sailed for the American owned Panama Pacific Line until she was scrapped in 1936.