The Grande Semaine d’Aviation Poster is a timeless piece of aviation history, advertising the monumental eight-day aviation meeting in Reims, France, held from 22 to 29 August 1909. While not the very first international air event, the Grande Semaine d’Aviation Poster captures what was arguably the most significant moment in pioneering aviation history.
This beautiful aviation poster, created by the renowned artist Ernest Montaut, features a captivating scene. Balloons, dirigibles, monoplanes, and biplanes soar out from the majestic Reims Cathedral, heading towards the elegantly dressed woman in the foreground.
She is depicted in a striking purple dress with black stripes, which billows in the wind. Her dress and the flag above her head echo the movement of the air. The woman is waving enthusiastically at the passing aircraft, her face filled with an obvious sense of wonder and excitement.
The scene, bathed in the orange-yellow glow of a sunset, highlights the novelty of aviation during this period. The woman’s visible awe suggests these are some of the very first aircraft she has ever seen, a feeling so far removed from our modern-day familiarity with flight.
This poster truly encapsulates a moment of pure magic, where the dream of flight was taking its first steps. A truly magnificent piece for any collector.
The Grande Semaine d’Aviation de Champagne
The Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne aviation meeting was a monumental event in early flight history. It was France’s first international airshow and only the second ever held. The event’s name honoured the major Champagne growers who sponsored it, including Moët et Chandon and Mumm. The committee was led by the Marquis de Polignac, ensuring a truly prestigious affair.
Many of the era’s most prominent aviators participated, with the most famous being Louis Blériot. Just a month before, he had completed his historic flight across the English Channel. Other pioneering pilots in attendance included Henri Farman, Léon Delagrange, Hubert Latham, Count Charles de Lambert, Louis Paulhan, Roger Sommer, and Glenn Hammond Curtiss.
This “Big Week of Aviation” drew a massive crowd of over 500,000 visitors, including French President Armand Fallières and British Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George. The event took place on the plains of Bétheny, just north of Reims, featuring a grandstand and aircraft sheds. Amenities were impressive, with a restaurant seating 600, bandstands, flowerbeds, and a post office that sent out nearly 50,000 postcards daily.
Over the eight days, these magnificent men and their flying machines competed in events like the Prix de la Vitesse and the Grand Prix de la Champagne. The 1909 Grande Semaine d’Aviation de la Champagne also hosted the inaugural Gordon Bennett Trophy race, one of the most prestigious events. George Curtiss, representing America, won the trophy, narrowly beating Louis Blériot’s time.
Blériot did secure one victory with the fastest circuit time of 7 minutes, 47.4 seconds. The event also saw Henri Farman break the world distance record with a flight of 180 km. It was here that the lightweight Gnome engine was introduced, an innovation that would become highly acclaimed.
The event concluded on Sunday, 29 August, with the final races for the Prix de l’Altitude, Prix du Tour de Piste, and Prix des Aeronauts, along with the Prix des Passagers.
How much is an original Grande Semaine d’Aviation de Champagne poster worth?
The Grande Semaine d’Aviation event is a landmark moment in aviation history, celebrating the incredible progress made in early flight. Ernest Montaut’s beautiful Grande Semaine d’Aviation Poster is rightly considered one of the finest air display posters from the pioneering era of aviation.
While an original vintage Grande Semaine d’Aviation Poster is a true collector’s item, often selling for thousands, we understand that for most people, this kind of investment isn’t a possibility. An original poster can certainly be a winner, and there’s nothing quite like owning one, but their value and scarcity make them hard to find and even harder to afford.
This is where our stunning, high-quality reproductions come into their own. While our posters won’t increase in value like an original, they offer the same sense of nostalgia and inspiration for any aviation enthusiast. A Grande Semaine d’Aviation Poster reproduction is a fantastic addition to any collection.
For a fraction of the cost of an original, our reproductions look absolutely fantastic when framed. Whether you’re looking to decorate a living room, office, or garage—or even a VIP lounge, control tower, or aircraft hangar—a high-quality Grande Semaine d’Aviation Poster is an essential piece of art.
