Date: 1950s
Size: 39 x 24 inches
Notes: Poster, Large Poster, Lithograph, Linen Backed
Artist: Poulain
About The Poster: Lovely, lyrical, and beautifully coloured, this mid-century poster would look great in almost any room - even a boardroom!
About the Messageries Maritimes, Wikipedia tells us that it is an old French company which originally was created in 1851 as the Messageries Nationales, later Messageries Imperiales, and in 1871 the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes.
In 1851, a little ship owner from Marseille, M. Rostand, proposed to Ernest Simons, director of a terrestrial common carrier company the messageries nationales, to merge to create a common shipping carrier company, first called Messageries Nationales, then Messageries Impériales, and finally in 1871 the "Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes". In the beginning, the Company operated from routes to the Middle East. Its ships were used as troop carriers during the Crimea War, and were so helpful for the army that the Emperor gave the company the right to operate on the Bordeaux-Brazil route as thanks. This was the first French transatlantic line equipped with steamers.
Poster is linen lined and in very good condition.