Cairo - Misr Airlines

✓ Original - not a reprint!
✓ Delivery in 2-4 working days
✓ 100 days right of return

Step into the golden era of international travel and exploration with this rare and evocative lithograph, published by Misr Airlines around 1934. The poster, designed by Russian-French artist N. Strekalovsky, is a breathtaking testament to a time when Egypt opened up to the world – and the world began to dream of desert sands, palm groves and pharaonic temples.

The motif is majestic: the iconic Colossi of Memnon in Luxor rise majestically under the Egyptian sun, flanked by swaying palm trees and with a propeller plane soaring above the horizon – a symbol of the dawn of modern aviation. It is a visually striking union of antiquity and modernity, and an elegant expression of the travel aesthetic of the 1930s.

Artist: N. Strekalovsky
Nikolai Strekalovsky (also known as Nicolas Strekaloff) was a Russian émigré and graphic designer, active in Europe during the interwar period. His work was characterized by a refined Art Deco style and a special ability to combine exotic motifs with modern forms. Strekalovsky worked for several major airlines, including Egypt's Misr Airlines – the forerunner of EgyptAir – and his posters are now sought-after collectors' items.

Egyptian tourism in the 1930s
The 1930s marked the beginning of a new era for tourism in Egypt. The country had attracted archaeologists and adventurers for decades, but with the development of commercial aviation, a wider audience became able to experience Egypt's treasures. Misr Airlines was founded in 1932 as the first airline in the Arab world and played a central role in making Cairo and the classic sites around the Nile accessible.

This lithograph is not just an advertisement – ​​it is a work of art and a historical document. It captures a dream of travel, mystery and cultural encounter, exactly as imagined in the elegant and daring world of the interwar period.

We last saw a similar example sold in 2013.

Cindition

8/10 - Edge tears - especially a large one at the top - and four folds.