Wengen Switzerland Vintage Ski Poster 1927 – Otto Ernst
A superb reproduction print of one of downhill skiing’s earliest competitive races. The poster was produced by the Schweiz Akademischen Skiklub (SAS). It was used to promote the 1927 University Ski Competitions held at Wengen ski resort over three days, 13, 14 and 15 January. The vintage Wengen skiing poster features a superb image of a downhill skier carving up the snow as he speeds downs the slopes of the world-famous Lauberhorn under the looming peaks of the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau mountain ranges. The text below in stylised red and black letters reads; Universitäts Ski-Wettkämfe. 13, 14 und 15 Januar 1927. Wengen, Auskunft durch den Schweiz. Akademischen Skiklub (SAS) Galdswil. (Interlaken).
The first University Ski Competitions was held as a race with British students racing against each other and the local Wengen Ski Club in 1922. It became an annual event between the British Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. At this time skiing was still an expensive and exclusive sport. As the 1921 guidebook ‘Switzerland in Winter’ written by Will and Carine Cadby describes the nearby Mürren resort. ” the winter visiting population was composed of skiing duchesses, skating lords and curling bishops.” Although the event started in Wengen, the event takes place at many other ski resorts. This poster was used to promote the fifth edition of the race which was, once again, held at Wengen.
Lauberhorn ski races, Wengen, Switzerland
Wengen is famously home to the Lauberhorn ski races. Skiers have been hitting the slopes of the Lauberhorn for over a century. The first recorded ski race on the mountain was held in 1912, when the Roberts of Kandahar Ski Challenge Cup was offered. The race quickly gained popularity, and by 1927 it was simply known as the Lauberhorn Ski Cup.
The Lauberhorn downhill is truly a feat of endurance and skill and to this day the Lauberhorn downhill reigns as the oldest, longest, fastest, and arguably the most beautiful course on the World Cup circuit. Each year dozens of racers stand in the tiny wooden hut at the top of the course taking in the stunning views before focussing on the course’s challenging terrain. It’sone of the most iconic downhill skiing courses in the world. With its unrivaled combination of speed and technical difficulty, this legendary course has enthralled skiers and spectators alike for decades. The course winds its way down the mountain over a total distance of nearly six kilometers, featuring a grueling array of high-speed turns, tight switchbacks, and imposing jumps including the courses signature jump, the Hundschopf. It’s a breathtaking jump – in the shadow of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau – has kept spectators returning year after year.
How much is an original Otto Ernst Wengen Switzerland Poster worth?
Vintage travel posters can be incredibly valuable. For example, an LMS railway poster titled ‘Best Way’ by the artist AM Cassandre sold at auction for $162,500 way back in 2012. That was exceptional and an auction record for any travel poster. But many vintage travel posters range from £2000 to £25,000 and sometimes more.
There are several reasons that posters vary so much in value. In almost all cases, the condition of the poster is the most significant factor. A poster that is in mint condition will be worth more than one that is damaged or faded. In other cases, the value is due to the subject matter of the poster. Posters advertising famous or popular destinations are often highly sought-after, as are those created by iconic poster artists. Finally, rarity can also play a role in determining value. A poster that is one of a kind will obviously be worth more than one that was mass-produced. Ultimately, there is no single factor that determines the value of a vintage poster. Rather, it is a combination of all of these factors that makes some posters more valuable than others.
Original Otto Ernst posters are usually rare and just by looking at the poster’s image you know, it’s going to be highly sought after. In 2020, a litho print was sold at an online original poster website and realised a price of £5,500.
There’s no argument from us, if you can find an original copy and can afford to buy it, you’re on to a winner. There’s nothing like owning an original vintage poster and they often make a great investment. Chances are in just a few years you’ll be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. Unfortunately, for most of us, an investment at this level isn’t even close to being a possibility. This is where our stunning high-quality reproductions come into their own. They cost a fraction of an original and look absolutely fantastic when they’re framed and hung on your living room wall.
So if you are looking for a reproduction vintage Wengen skiing poster with a dynamic image of a downhill skier on it, you’ve found it! Our posters are printed on to premium 300gsm high quality, silk art paper and with our fast turnaround and delivery, they can be with you in just a few days. Order yours today, you won’t be disappointed!
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 £15. So you can bag a bargain of print and frame for a great price.
