Toronto Reference Library Blog

Kulz, United States, Circa 1923. The Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The new TD Gallery exhibit at the Toronto Reference Library is Flight: the Thrilling History of an Idea.  I so enjoyed this collection of fanciful and historical depictions of flight from the Special Collections Department, that I went up to the Business, Science and Technology Department (3rd floor) to explore more aviation images and the history of flight.  

My favourite illustrated history of flight is Fly
Now!: a Colorful Story of Flight from Hot Air Balloon to the 377
"WorldLiner": the Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and
Space Museum

Bougard, France, 1909. Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

This stunning collection of posters from around the world includes 19th century ballooning exhibition advertisements, early 20th century airplane exhibitions and 20th century
airline advertisements from many different airlines.

The posters include balloons, flying boats, mail carriers and the first luxury airliners.

The author, Dr. Joanne Gernstein, is the curator of the 1400-piece
poster collection at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

But the best part? This exhibit is also online!

You can browse the posters by decade from the 1820s through to the 1990s.

Giuseppe Riccobaldi, 1887-1976, Italy, circa 1924. Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Here are some other items you may find interesting from our collection. Be sure to drop by after your gallery visit!

Kulz, United States, Circa 1923. The Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The new TD Gallery exhibit at the Toronto Reference Library is Flight: the Thrilling History of an Idea.  I so enjoyed this collection of fanciful and historical depictions of flight from the Special Collections Department, that I went up to the Business, Science and Technology Department (3rd floor) to explore more aviation images and the history of flight.  

My favourite illustrated history of flight is Fly
Now!: a Colorful Story of Flight from Hot Air Balloon to the 377
"WorldLiner": the Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and
Space Museum

Bougard, France, 1909. Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

This stunning collection of posters from around the world includes 19th century ballooning exhibition advertisements, early 20th century airplane exhibitions and 20th century
airline advertisements from many different airlines.

The posters include balloons, flying boats, mail carriers and the first luxury airliners.

The author, Dr. Joanne Gernstein, is the curator of the 1400-piece
poster collection at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

But the best part? This exhibit is also online!

You can browse the posters by decade from the 1820s through to the 1990s.

Giuseppe Riccobaldi, 1887-1976, Italy, circa 1924. Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Here are some other items you may find interesting from our collection. Be sure to drop by after your gallery visit!