c.1900 Santa Fe Route Freight Traffic Department North America British Lion Map
Date: c.1900
Artist: Unknown
Size (in): 31.5” x 23”
Size (cm): 80 x 58.5
Condition: C+
Linen backed: Yes
This is an extremely rare poster issued as an advertising piece by the Freight Traffic Department of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. This poster features a spherical map of North America that looks something like a globe with a supersized representation of North America over which the route of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway is delineated. A large lion stands astride the globe with the Santa Fe Route logo printed just below. The lower right corner is printed “Compliments of Freight Traffic Department” and lists W.B. Biddle as Feight Traffic Manager, Chicago and W.A. Bissel as Assistant Freight Traffic Manager, Chicago.
The lion was featured in logos and in other types of advertising issued by the Santa Fe Railway in the 19th century primarily as homage to the Bank of England and the major British investment that made the railroad possible. This poster isn’t dated but William Baxter (W.B.) Biddle held the position of Freight Traffic Manager with the Santa Fe from the 1890s up until 1905 when he accepted position in the senior management of the Rock Island Railroad. We date this original antique poster to around 1900 or so.
This poster has been recently professionally conversation mounted to a linen backing. The poster had some loss to the upper left corner and a small area just above the lion which was expertly replaced during the linen backing process and didn’t affect the map or other graphics. There was also some replaced loss to the tip of the lower left corner which was confined to the margin and didn’t encroach into the image area. Small creases and other minor imperfections were expertly addressed during the linen backing process producing a truly magnificent and rare piece with strong colors. This is an extremely rare poster as we trace none at auction and a Google Lens search doesn’t even locate the image. Serious buyers are welcome to contact us of photos of the poster prior to the linen backing.
