Chamonix Mont Blanc Vintage Ski Poster – Henry Reb – 1933

Chamonix Mont Blanc Vintage Ski Poster – Henry Reb

We love this classic vintage Chamonix Mont Blanc ski poster! There are so many cool ski posters to choose from but this has to be one of the best ever. It was created in 1933 by the artist Henry Reb for the French National Railway, Paris-Lyon-Méditerranée, more commonly known as PLM. The poster was used to promote the beautiful mountain resort of Chamonix Mont-Blanc as a place to visit ‘éte et hiver’ during both the summer and winter months. Chamonix is a vibrant town known as both a superb mountaineering destination and a world-class ski resort.

The Chamonix Mont Blanc poster

Henry Reb’s poster features an image representing Mont Blanc. The mountain is divided into two halves by a pair of winter skis and a mountaineer’s ice axe. On the left half of the picture, the mountain is shown with no snow, being ascended by a mountain climber. On the right-hand side, the snow-covered mountain features an airborne skier on his descent from the peak.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc France

The Mont Blanc massif is a mountain range that lies along the French-Italian border. It is not only the highest point of the Alps, at 15,771 feet it is the highest peak in Europe. Chamonix Mont-Blanc is one of the best-known and most popular mountain resorts in the world. The Chamonix Valley is also considered by many to be the best freeride resort in the world. It is estimated that between 25,000 and 30,000 people attempt to reach the summit each year, of which 2,000 – 3,000 are successful.

Chamonix which means ‘Shining Mountain’ provides the access to the ascent of Mont Blanc. The first recorded successful ascension of the  Mont-Blanc took place on the 8th and 9th of August, 1786, by Jacques Balmat and doctor Michel Paccard.

In the early 20th century a railway line, the ontenvers cog railway, was opened to take tourists up to the Mer de Glace. However, there was always was ambition to go even higher. In 1924 and just in time for the first-ever winter Olympics, the first stage of the Aiguille du Midi was opened. The second section was opened in 1927. However, to reach the peak it was decided a new cable car would need to approach the summit from teh east rather than the west. Finally in 1955 the Aiguille du Midi, the highest cable car in the world was opened. It still transports visitors almost to the summit of Mount Midi. The Aiguille du Midi viewing platforms offer stunning panoramic views across the French, Swiss and Italian Alps.

Vintage Ski Posters

Over the last couple of decades, original ski posters have become ever-increasingly sought after. They look great decorating chalets and lodges. In addition, chances are the value of the original poster will continue to increase over time. In fact, it has been suggested that in the last decade, values have risen by several hundred percent. Great if you can afford them! An original copy of this poster was sold in 2015 for £8,750. (Update: Another original copy of this poster sold in 2018 for just over £3,500, so originals don’t always increase in price!)

For mere mortals, most of us can’t afford the original posters, never mind the chalets or lodges to decorate them with. This is where reproductions of the originals come in. The images can be retouched to remove blemishes, colours can be restored from faded originals, and tears and creases can be removed. Reproduction posters can often look as good as the day the originals were first printed and they still look fantastic on the walls of your living room, garage, or shed. Best of all, they are a fraction of the cost of an original. These posters look so good they need to be seen, and not just by the people that can afford an original.

Simply one of the best Ski Posters available. Get yours today!