'World's Greatest Air Race' reproduction poster on postcard

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Overview

Modern postcard reproduction of a poster designed by Percy Trompf for the Australian National Travel Association in 1934 relating to the Centenary Air Race.
The artwork depicts an airman wearing goggles and flying helmet in an open cockpit surrounded by the wires and struts of his aeroplane. In the background is another aeroplane. The colours are mostly red, white and blue. The title of the poster is written in the top left amd more details are written in a black border at the bottom of the poster.
The reverse of the poistcard is cream in colour and features a buff coloured map of Australia with the number '2000' in the centre. On the bottom left hand side is information about who commissioned the original poster and who gave permission for its reproduction. In the centre is a business logo for the printer and on the right is the artist's details.

Historical information

Percival Albert (Percy) Trompf was an Australian commercial artist, best known for his travel posters, books, advertising hoardings and pamphlets. A link to his biography is attached.

'The World's Greatest Air Race' was also known as the 'MacRobertson Trophy Race' and the 'Centenary Air Race'.

The Centenary Air-Race was conceived by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir Harold Gengoult Smith, as part of the celebrations recognising the centenary of Melbourne.
It was sponsored by the Australian confectionary maker, MacPherson Robertson (known as MacRobertson). As part of this support, he insisted that the race include his name, so it was alternatively known as 'The MacRobertson Trophy Air Race' or the 'London to Melbourne Air Race'.
The race ran from RAF Mildenhall in East Anglia to Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, with 5 compulsory stops en route at Baghdad, Allahabad, Singapore, Darwin, and Charleville, Queensland. Otherwise the route chosen was up to the pilots and crews.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00249

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Postcards

Themes

Social History
Transport

Material

Card (Laminated)

Ink

Width

118 mm

Height or length

152 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front of card at top:

"WORLD'S GREATEST
AIR RACE
FOR
MACROBERTSON
TROPHY"

On front of card at bottom:

"ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA
VICTORIAN & MELBOURNE
CENTENARY. 1934-35
(COMMENCING OCTOBER)"

"PARTICULARS AT SHIPPING
AND TRAVEL AGENCIES
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRAVEL ASSOCIATION"

On back of card:

"2000"

"WORLD'S GREATEST AIR RACE
* Commissioned by The Australian Travel Association
* Reproduced with kind permission of The Australian
Tourist Commission and the Percy Trompf Estate"

"Post-Age
PRINTED IN AUSTRALIA"

"ARTIST: Percy Trompf C
Australia 1902-1964"

Keywords

Place made

Australia

Primary significance criteria