Nordlandfarthen

This original vintage Hamburg-Amerika Linie (HAPAG) travel poster promotes the company's Nordlandfahrten, cruises from Hamburg to the far north. Designed and lithographed by Carl Langhein, the poster shows a Hamburg-Amerika Linie steamship sailing through northern waters, with a dramatic Arctic, ice-covered landscape, probably Spitsbergen (Svalbard), stretching across the horizon.

"Nordlandfahrten" literally means voyages to the northern lands or northern cruises. In the context of HAPAG tourism advertising, "Northern Cruises" is probably the most natural English translation. The German text at the bottom directs prospective passengers to the passenger department of the Hamburg-Amerika Linie in Hamburg or to its domestic and international agents.

The striking decorative border is particularly unusual, with stylized intertwined sea creatures and Nordic-inspired ornament framing the maritime scene. The strong red, black and blue color scheme gives the poster a distinctive early 20th-century character.

Printed by Kunstdruckerei Künstlerbund Karlsruhe, this is a rare and highly decorative example of early German ocean liner and Arctic travel advertising, combining the history of the Hamburg-Amerika Linie with the fascination of early tourist voyages to the far north.

Mounted on old linen and in almost good condition. There are tears and cracks to the poster and old linen backing, with general age wear. Despite these faults, the poster retains a strong decorative appearance and would look impressive framed.