British Airways The Viking Royal Mail Express

This is a very rare and authentic original British Airways poster from the 1930s, designed by the influential British graphic designer Theyre Lee-Elliott. Known for his iconic “Speedbird” logo created for Imperial Airways—later adopted by BOAC and British Airways until 1984—Lee-Elliott was a pioneer of modernist travel design. While this poster does not feature the Speedbird symbol, it showcases his signature minimalist and dynamic style.

This striking Art Deco composition presents an abstract view of an aircraft soaring skyward, capturing the sleek energy and excitement of early commercial aviation. A variation of this design was also featured on British Airways’ 1938 timetable cover, marking it as part of the airline’s influential branding efforts.

The poster boldly invites viewers to “BOOK YOUR SEAT HERE”, positioning air travel as both modern and accessible—a radical message for its time.

Condition: Graded B – visually stunning, though it has undergone restoration for tears and paper loss in the upper left margin.

Extremely rare, especially with the text version titled "The Viking Royal Mail Express", which is seldom seen and adds to its historical significance.