Exceedingly rare color poster for the White Star Line, 39 x 29, of the company's two newest and biggest ships, the Titanic and Olympic, circa early 1912. Originally done by Montague Birrell Black, the poster shows the Olympic steaming ahead, with its decks and bow full of passengers, with the Titanic in the background. The poster's borders have been trimmed, as was the custom after the catastrophic Titanic sinking. Poster bears Black's printed initials in the lower right, has been affixed to an identical size mount and is housed in its original frame (with plate glass), along with a small White Star Line plaque nailed into the bottom edge of the frame, to an overall size of 44.5 x 34.25. Backing bears most of a Galindo Mfg. Co. New York label. In fine condition, with uniform light fading to colors, a couple small areas of paper loss near top edge, and a small tear to left edge. Black produced numerous paintings and postcards for White Star Line throughout the 1920s. Printed in a relatively small number to hang in White Star Offices, only a few copies have survived, even fewer in their original frames. Oversized.
