1930 New York Central Building Chelsey Bonestell
Date: 1930
Artist: Bonestell, Chelsey
Size (in): 41” x 27”
Size (cm): 104.1 x 68.6
Condition: B
Linen backed: Yes
This striking vintage original poster featuring the New York Central Building in New York City was created by the versatile artist Chelsey Bonestell and issued by the railroad in 1930 shortly after the building opened. The 35-story skyscraper on Park Avenue between East 45th and 46th Streets, known today as the Helmsley Building, was designed in a Beaux-Arts style by the famed architectural firm of Warren & Wetmore and has been described as the last major component of the early 20th century Terminal City complex real estate development in midtown Manhattan. Text on the poster reads:
New York Central Building Park Avenue, New York - At The Gateway To A Continent
Chelsey Bonestell was born in San Francisco and is most well-known today for his “Space Art” and influence on science fiction art, illustration and cinema. Bonestell enrolled as an undergraduate at Columbia University in 1907 but dropped out after a couple years to work as a renderer and designer for a few different New York City architectural firms. The New York Central Building was one of the design projects with which Bonestell was involved and from which this magnificent poster finds its origin story. The lower right corner indicates this poster was printed by the Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island City, New York. Bonestell moved to Hollywood in the late 1930s and his career as an artist took a entirely new path with his later work focused almost exclusively on Space Art, science fiction and astronomical illustration.
This is truly one of the most desirable and sought-after of all New York City travel posters. This vintage original poster has been professionally conservation mounted to linen with some expert touch up as needed including touchup to fold line wear and repair to a closed tear of about three inches without paper loss in the image area. A crease to the lower left corner has been carefully mitigated during the linen backing process and fold lines show lightly after linen backing. The original colors are retained, the poster displays beautifully and overall condition is very good. Interested buyers are welcome to contact us for photos of the poster prior to linen backing.
