| Creator | Otto Baumberger |
| Printing year | 1928 |
| Sheet size (cm) | 45×32 |
| Printing technique | Lithograph |
| Printer | Wassermann |
| Condition | B |
| Asking price | 1'600 CHF |
| Categories | in the air, Plebiscites & Campaigns, Swissair & Aviation, Switzerland |
Rather than an original poster, this is an advertising display on cardboard intended for indoor use – designed by Otto Baumberger on behalf of the Swiss Air Traffic Union, founded in 1927, and printed in 1928 to draw the public’s attention to civil aviation, which was still in its infancy, and to point out the possibility of using airplanes instead of ships or, in particular, trains.
Interestingly, not only was a German version printed, but also one in English (we do not know whether there was also a French or even Italian version), which was aimed more at British and American nationals working in Switzerland and Germany than for use in English-speaking countries – because there were no connections between Switzerland and Great Britain at that time, let alone North America.
The picture shows a Fokker VIIa, which was in service for Balair from March 1928; Swissair used the aircraft from 1931 onwards, following the merger of Balair and Ad Astra.
maybe of interest as well: