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Fly to the USA by BOAC Stratocruiser Speedbird

Poster
1950s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Travel poster advertising BOAC routes between Britain and the US. The poster depicts the Atlantic Ocean as a folded map, with lines of latitude and longitude, and a dotted line representing the route. The edges of the map fold up vertically to reveal red, white and blue striped sections, from which is cut out the shape of the US and the United Kingdom. A chevron, or arrow, representing an aeroplane, points towards each of the spaces, red and white towards the UK, blue and white to the US, and they are joined by a dotted line. Between the two sides of the map is an area of white fluffy cloud, and the whole illustration is set against a surrealist background of sky and horizon. At the top of the poster are the words, 'Fly to the U.S.A by B.O.A.C', and on each side of the central fold of the map, 'Stratocruiser', on the left, and 'Speedbird' on the right. At the bottom of the poster is the company information, 'British Overseas Airways Corporation in association with Qantas Empire Airlines Ltd., South African Airways, Tasman Empire Airways Ltd. The poster has been mounted onto linen backing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFly to the USA by BOAC Stratocruiser Speedbird (generic title)
Materials and techniques
colour lithograph
Brief description
Travel poster BOAC routes between the UK and US, designed by Abram Games, UK, 1950s
Physical description
Travel poster advertising BOAC routes between Britain and the US. The poster depicts the Atlantic Ocean as a folded map, with lines of latitude and longitude, and a dotted line representing the route. The edges of the map fold up vertically to reveal red, white and blue striped sections, from which is cut out the shape of the US and the United Kingdom. A chevron, or arrow, representing an aeroplane, points towards each of the spaces, red and white towards the UK, blue and white to the US, and they are joined by a dotted line. Between the two sides of the map is an area of white fluffy cloud, and the whole illustration is set against a surrealist background of sky and horizon. At the top of the poster are the words, 'Fly to the U.S.A by B.O.A.C', and on each side of the central fold of the map, 'Stratocruiser', on the left, and 'Speedbird' on the right. At the bottom of the poster is the company information, 'British Overseas Airways Corporation in association with Qantas Empire Airlines Ltd., South African Airways, Tasman Empire Airways Ltd. The poster has been mounted onto linen backing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 104cm
  • Width: 67.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'FLY TO THE U.S.A BY / B.O.A.C' (Above main image, top of the poster, first line printed in white. The second is printed in brown, with a red, a white and a blue disc separating each letter.)
  • 'Stratocruiser Speedbird' (One word each side of image, 'Stratocruiser' printed in blue, 'Speedbird' in red)
  • 'BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH QANTAS EMPIRE AIRLINES LTD., SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS, TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD.' (Company information, printed in black, lower edge of poster)
  • 'A. GAMES' (Artist's signature, printed upper right corner)
  • 'PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN' (Black print, lower left corner)
  • '49/417/McCs' (Black print, lower right corner)
  • '$1,450-' (Annotated in pencil, lower right corner on support)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends of the V&A by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Places depicted
Other number
LS.2064 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.1026-2004

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Record createdJune 28, 2006
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