Grande Semaine d’Aviation – Montaut – 1909

The Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne was an 8-day aviation meeting held near Reims in France between August 22 and 29th August in 1909. It is often celebrated as the first international public flying event, but in reality an event, Interntionale Luftschiffahrt Ausstellung, in Frankfurt. began just a month before the Grand Semaine show and went on until October.

The event may not have quite been the first air show put on but this aviation poster by Ernest Montaut knocks spots off any other air display posters for 1909. It features a selection of balloons, diridgables, monoplanes, bi-planes flying from the Reims Cathedral towards an elegantly dressed woman in the foreground that is waving at the passing aircraft.

The event was the first air contest for the prestigious Gordon Bennett Trophy which was awarded to the pilot with the  fastest time over a measured distance which was won by Glenn Curtiss.

The event was attended by most of the important aviators of the time, including Louis Blériot, Henry Farman, Léon Delagrange, Hubert Latham, count Charles de Lambert, Louis Paulhan, Roger Sommer, and the American entry, Glenn Hammond Curtiss.

Three thousand Britons arrived by special excursion, and two thousand Americans turned up  in support of Glenn Curtis, helping make up an attending crowd of 500,000 people.

Original copies of this poster sell for upto £8000.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as a fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and poster for just £22.