FRANK NEWBOULD (1887-1950)
9
●
TO EUROPE VIA AMERICA / THE “BIG SHIP” ROUTE. Circa 1920.
40x25 inches, 101
1
/
2
x63
1
/
2
cm. The Baynard Press, London.
Condition B+ / B: restoration, repaired tears, overpainting and creases in margins and image; horizontal folds.
A monumental image of the bustle and majesty of New York Harbor teaming with tugboats beneath
the massive splendor of some of the world’s most famous buildings: the Woolworth Building and the
Barclay-Vesey Building (now more commonly known as the New York Telephone Building). These
were two of the most visible edifices in the city prior to the construction of the Chrysler and Empire
State Buildings in the early 1930s. In fact, New York is such an impressive city that Newbould focuses
almost entirely on her and barely illustrates one of the most famous ships in the White Star Line’s
fleet, the
Olympic
, sister ship to the ill-fated
Titanic
. Although virtually identical in appearance to the
Titanic
(minus all of the ultra-luxurious trappings), all that is visible here of the
Olympic
is her stern
and a White Star flag flying from one of her masts. It is left to the viewer’s imagination to determine
the dimensions of a ship that could transport one to such a magnificent, prominent and important
locale. This is the Australian version of the poster advertising travel to Europe via America. The
European version reads, “White Star to New York.” The Big Ship Route entailed sailing from Sydney
to Vancouver, then across America by train, or alternately, via Panama Pacific Lines through the Panama
Canal to New York, then by White Star to Europe.
[4,000/6,000]
