Travel by Train: The American Railroad Poster, 1870-1950
From the proliferation of competitive railroad lines across the  continent in the second half of the 19th century to the decline  in passengers after World War II, this book conveys the  excitement involved in train travel by reproducing 120 poster  images, photographs, and sketches from the time before most  people were driving or flying to their destinations. The  coauthors know their subject well: Gruber is president of the  Center for Railroad Photography and Art, editor of its magazine,  contributing editor of Classic Trains, and recent editor of  Vintage Rails; Zega is a regular contributor to the two latter  magazines, among others. Their extensive research proves  fascinating, and the colorful posters still maintain their  visual appeal. Five chronologically arranged chapters interweave  information about the artists and how the characteristics of  their commissioned designs serve the advertising purposes of the  railroad lines they worked for. A large number of artists, both  well known (N.C. Wyeth, John Held Jr.) and not so well known  (Maurice Logan, Leslie Ragan), are included in the discussion,  with reproductions of their designs. Recommended to both  academic and public libraries for their transportation history,  graphic design, or advertising history sections.Anne Marie  Lane, Univ. of Wyoming, LaramieCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.