Posters
Impressive 1936 "Cunard / White Star R.M.S. QUEEN MARY" Travel Poster by Artist William Howard Jarvis
c. 1936, "Cunard / White Star R.M.S. QUEEN MARY" Travel Poster by Artist William Howard Jarvis, printer: British Colour Printing Co., Ltd. London & Liverpool, Extremely Fine.
This large, full bleed Poster measures about 24.5" x 39.75" (by sight) and is framed to an overall size of roughly 27" x 42.5". We note that an other noted auction firm records having sold a similar example in November 2014 for $1,925. The Queen Mary dominates the bottom half of this vibrant red, gold, black, and white poster. We have not examined the poster out of the frame. There are no folds and the only flaws worth mentioning are some trivial marginal creases at upper right. The British shipping company, "White Star Line," is most known for its cutting edge vessel Oceanic of 1870, the disastrous RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of the ship Britannic. In 1934, the company merged with its chief rival, the Cunard Line. Cunard-White Star Line, Ltd. existed until 1950, when Cunard began operating independently. Today, the company is best recognized for its ships Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria,and Queen Elizabeth. This is a most impressive, visually dramatic display piece. The Queen Mary, as part of the Cunard / White Star line, was a distant relative of the ill-fated Titanic. The Queen Mary sailed between London and New York from 1936 to 1967 and was later docked at the City of Long Beach, where she operated as a floating hotel and museum. In early 2022, the Queen Mary closed for "critical repairs" and deferred maintenance that are expected to exceed $5 million. If the current repairs go smoothly the Queen Mary may reopen in late 2022. The Poster somewhat less costly and ready to hang on display.
Provenance Ex. Alexander Gaston Collection.
Artist William Howard Jarvis (1903-1964) was recognized by the early 1930s for his seascapes and maritime settings, and was commissioned to create this stone litho poster of the grand RMS Queen Mary, that from 1936 to 1967 sailed between England and New York as part of Cunard's weekly express service. Upon its retirement, the ship was purchased by the city of Long Beach, California and is docked there, serving as a floating hotel and museum. Originals of this poster are extremely scarce, and finding one in top condition is even more challenging.