ALGERIAN RAILWAYS POSTER

Original 1925 French Railway Poster by Jos-Henri Ponchin — “Algérie Romaine et Circuits Automobiles de Kabylie” | Chemins de Fer de l’État

Ref 07615 

This is an original 1925 French travel poster created for the Compagnie des Chemins de Fer de l’État (French Railways company). Designed by Jos-Henri Ponchin, the artwork promotes French Algeria through the evocative theme of Roman Algeria and the picturesque automobile circuits of Kabylie. This is the first and authentic edition, not a reproduction.

Measuring 105 × 75 cm (41.3 × 29.5 in) unframed, the poster captures the elegance and atmosphere characteristic of early 20th-century French travel advertising. Ponchin’s refined composition—combining historic imagery, dramatic landscapes, and Art Deco sensibilities—makes this piece especially desirable to collectors of vintage travel posters, French colonial history, and pre-war railway art.

To ensure optimal presentation, the poster was professionally cleaned by a conservator who works with French national museums. Importantly, it has NOT been mounted on linen or board. Instead, it has been lightly backed with an ultra-fine Bolloré-type nonwoven paper, a conservation-grade technique that preserves the poster’s original flexibility. The condition is exceptionally well-preserved for its age: only a few small foxing marks appear  upon very close inspection. Examples in this level of original condition are rare on the market.

Artist Bio: Jos-Henri Ponchin

Jos-Henri Ponchin was a French painter and illustrator active during the early 20th century and part of a renowned family of artists. Trained within the academic tradition that shaped many French painters of his generation, Ponchin developed a style distinguished by precise draftsmanship, luminous color, and an affinity for Mediterranean and North African landscapes. His work includes public commissions and illustrated projects, notably travel posters that contributed to the visual identity of French tourism during the interwar period. Today, Ponchin’s original posters are sought after for their historical significance, artistic quality, and decorative appeal.