The New Empire State Express poster – Leslie Ragan – 1941

Poster: The New Empire State Express poster New York Central System, New York – Leslie Ragan – 1941

The original Empire State Express, running between New York City and Buffalo, entered service in 1891. In 1941, the New York Central System railway company commissioned Leslie Ragan to create a poster. The poster was to celebrate the Empire State Express, the flagship train of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad on its 50th anniversary. It was also intended to announce the arrival of a “New” Empire State Express train entering service. The modern, art deco-styled, stainless-steel, streamlined (Budd) train, was introduced on 7th December 1941.

This Leslie Ragan painted image of the “New” Empire State Express as it steams through the Hudson River Valley has become iconic and one of his most famous poster artworks.

Original copies of this poster sell for a starting price of around $2,500

The New Empire State Express poster – Leslie Ragan – 1941

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 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.