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Railroad Posters
About Vintage Railroad Posters
In the first half of the 20th century, railroad travel promotion became a high art form, with specially commissioned illustrations and artwork. Colorful posters were used to entice travelers to choose a particular railroad, route, or vacation destination. Around the world, long-haul lines and urban metro companies alike used poster advertising in their stations and around the cities. Today, these posters are valued for their diverse and vibrant themes and appearance.
Post an Event
Upcoming Events
- Post It: Turn-of-the-Century Magazine Posters from the Collection
Mar 2–Apr 4. Lexington, KY. - 15th Annual Railroadiana Show and Sale
Apr 10. Pine Bluff, AR. - Key Lock & Lantern 38th Annual Convention
Apr 10. Glenmont, NY.
Interviews & Articles
Guest Column: An Overview of Railroadiana Collecting
Many people are fascinated by railroads. At one time, railroads were connected to most aspects of community and eco… [more]
An Interview With Poster Designer David Lance Goines
I don’t collect posters. I don’t collect anything. I started making posters one at a time by hand in high school ju… [more]
Guest Column: Collecting Vintage Magic Posters
What are vintage magic posters? Posters of magicians printed by the stone lithography method qualify as vintage… [more]
An Interview with Railroadiana Collector and Auctioneer Sue Knous
My husband Bill always loved trains and my grandfather had been an executive with the Denver and Rio Grande here. W… [more]
An Interview With Vintage Movie Poster Collector Sam Sarowitz
Our first book was called "The Independent Movie Poster Book" and that was published by Harry Abrams. The focus was… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Railroadiana Online
If you've ever wondered how to tell real from fake railroad china, or how brass baggage tags originated, this extre… [read review or visit site]
London Transport Museum Posters
A must-see collection of 5,000 vivid, colorful British posters from the early 1900s onward. Browse by artist (over … [read review or visit site]
Circusmuseum.nl
Step right up and check out almost 8,000 beautiful circus posters, photos and prints. Assembled by longtime Dutch c… [read review or visit site]
Fillmore and Avalon Collection
Wish you'd visited San Francisco in the late 1960s? Get a quick hit with this comprehensive collection of psychadel… [read review or visit site]
MagicGallery.com
This collection of hundreds of posters, cards and portaits from the 'golden age of magic' (1890-1930) is organized … [read review or visit site]
USSR Posters
Ben Perry's Flickr photoset showcasing almost 1500 Soviet propaganda, advertising, theatre and movie posters from 1… [read review or visit site]
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library's impressive Digital Gallery offers free access to over 500,000 historical images inclu… [read review or visit site]
The American Memory Project
This amazing Library of Congress site includes about a hundred photo and document collections (see complete list) o… [read review or visit site]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
Clubs & Associations: Posters
- Key, Lock and Lantern, Inc.
- Railroadiana Collectors Association, Inc.
- National Association of Timetable Collectors
- National Railway Historical Society
Other Great Reference Sites: Posters
- Tag Town Railroad Baggage Tags Site
- RailServe.com
- Circus Posters in the Princeton University Library
- Chinese Propaganda Posters
- 19th Century Shipping Posters
- 1920s Chicago Transit Posters
Are we missing one? Tell us.
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