1950 Europa - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
By: Leesink
Date: 1950 (circa) Netherlands
Dimensions: 15.5 x 21.5 inches (39.5 x 54.5 cm)
This mid-century folding map of Europe was produced for Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM. It depicts in a whimsical pictorial style, the UK, Western Europe in its entirety, Scandinavia, and parts of Russia and Turkey. Vignettes sprightly portray iconographic ideals of sport, professional life, tourism and industry for each part of each region, from musicians in Salzburg to a matador fleeing from a bull near Madrid. The map is surrounded by medallions naming KLM's various subsidiaries and the countries to which the KLM subsidiary flies.
KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines, was founded on October 7, 1919, by Albert Plesman, who would later become the company's first president. Its inaugural flight took place in May 1920, connecting London and Amsterdam with a leased aircraft. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, KLM expanded its network, pioneering long-distance flights and establishing routes to the Dutch East Indies, becoming a leader in international aviation.
During World War II, KLM's operations were severely disrupted, but it resumed services quickly after the war ended, rebuilding its fleet and expanding its global reach. In the post-war era, KLM introduced new aircraft and technologies, including the Douglas DC-4 and Lockheed Constellation, enhancing passenger comfort and operational efficiency. By the 1950s, KLM had established itself as a major international airline, known for its innovation, reliability, and extensive network connecting Europe with the rest of the world.
Condition: This map is in B+ condition, folded as issued with no significant tears, holes, or separations. The map can be flattened for an additional cost.
Inventory #12769
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