1935 Imperial Airways Poster 'Australia in 10 1/2 Days'
Imperial Airways - Australia in 10 1/2 Days
Designed by Albert Brenet (1903-2005). Printed by Haycock Press, London for Imperial Airways. Colour lithograph on thick paper stock. Measures 47cm x 32.5cm. Condition: Very good. Slight discoloration and some marks in places. Writing in pencil on the back.
This evocative poster features the RMA Canberra (VH-USC), a four-engined Havilland DH 86 Express aircraft that could carry up to 12 passengers. Like all his work for Imperial Airways, artist Alfred Brenet superbly captures the excitement of early 20th century commercial air travel. Imperial Airways was an early British commercial long-range airline, operating from 1924 to 1939 and principally serving the British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East.
In 1935, the first route to Australia was opened up and, as the poster informs us, the epic route via Kharachi took over 10 days and dozens of stop overs for refuelling. From Singapore the route was served by Qantas Imperial Airways using the aircraft shown. For most, the only way to reach Australia was to travel by sea, which took 6 weeks. The rapid expansion of commercial air travel suddenly made the other side of the world accessible - to those that could afford it of course. Initially, passengers were mostly colonial administrators, business men and researchers.
As a child growing up in Le Havre, France, Albert Brenet (1903-2005) spent his days drawing boats in the harbor. After a short stint at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, Brenet set sail to the West Indies on the commercial vessel Bonchamp, where he honed his talents sketching and painting ships, exotic ports and the lives of crew members. He later became known for travel posters for transatlantic companies, such as Imperial Airways, Britain's early long range air transport company from 1924-1939. In 1939, the airline merged into British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which eventually became British Airways. Brenet captures the thrill of early air travel --low, slow flying, perfect for seeing fantastic sights along the 10 1/2 day route to Australia.
Imperial Airways - Australia in 10 1/2 Days
Designed by Albert Brenet (1903-2005). Printed by Haycock Press, London for Imperial Airways. Colour lithograph on thick paper stock. Measures 47cm x 32.5cm. Condition: Very good. Slight discoloration and some marks in places. Writing in pencil on the back.
This evocative poster features the RMA Canberra (VH-USC), a four-engined Havilland DH 86 Express aircraft that could carry up to 12 passengers. Like all his work for Imperial Airways, artist Alfred Brenet superbly captures the excitement of early 20th century commercial air travel. Imperial Airways was an early British commercial long-range airline, operating from 1924 to 1939 and principally serving the British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East.
In 1935, the first route to Australia was opened up and, as the poster informs us, the epic route via Kharachi took over 10 days and dozens of stop overs for refuelling. From Singapore the route was served by Qantas Imperial Airways using the aircraft shown. For most, the only way to reach Australia was to travel by sea, which took 6 weeks. The rapid expansion of commercial air travel suddenly made the other side of the world accessible - to those that could afford it of course. Initially, passengers were mostly colonial administrators, business men and researchers.
As a child growing up in Le Havre, France, Albert Brenet (1903-2005) spent his days drawing boats in the harbor. After a short stint at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, Brenet set sail to the West Indies on the commercial vessel Bonchamp, where he honed his talents sketching and painting ships, exotic ports and the lives of crew members. He later became known for travel posters for transatlantic companies, such as Imperial Airways, Britain's early long range air transport company from 1924-1939. In 1939, the airline merged into British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which eventually became British Airways. Brenet captures the thrill of early air travel --low, slow flying, perfect for seeing fantastic sights along the 10 1/2 day route to Australia.
Imperial Airways - Australia in 10 1/2 Days
Designed by Albert Brenet (1903-2005). Printed by Haycock Press, London for Imperial Airways. Colour lithograph on thick paper stock. Measures 47cm x 32.5cm. Condition: Very good. Slight discoloration and some marks in places. Writing in pencil on the back.
This evocative poster features the RMA Canberra (VH-USC), a four-engined Havilland DH 86 Express aircraft that could carry up to 12 passengers. Like all his work for Imperial Airways, artist Alfred Brenet superbly captures the excitement of early 20th century commercial air travel. Imperial Airways was an early British commercial long-range airline, operating from 1924 to 1939 and principally serving the British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East.
In 1935, the first route to Australia was opened up and, as the poster informs us, the epic route via Kharachi took over 10 days and dozens of stop overs for refuelling. From Singapore the route was served by Qantas Imperial Airways using the aircraft shown. For most, the only way to reach Australia was to travel by sea, which took 6 weeks. The rapid expansion of commercial air travel suddenly made the other side of the world accessible - to those that could afford it of course. Initially, passengers were mostly colonial administrators, business men and researchers.
As a child growing up in Le Havre, France, Albert Brenet (1903-2005) spent his days drawing boats in the harbor. After a short stint at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, Brenet set sail to the West Indies on the commercial vessel Bonchamp, where he honed his talents sketching and painting ships, exotic ports and the lives of crew members. He later became known for travel posters for transatlantic companies, such as Imperial Airways, Britain's early long range air transport company from 1924-1939. In 1939, the airline merged into British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which eventually became British Airways. Brenet captures the thrill of early air travel --low, slow flying, perfect for seeing fantastic sights along the 10 1/2 day route to Australia.