1940s - 1950s Travel Decals (Eastern and Southern States) by: the Lindgren Brothers
DESCRIPTION
This collection consists of original mid-century travel decals for the Eastern United States, produced by the Lindgren Brothers, one of the most recognizable names in American souvenir graphics from the 1930s through the 1950s. The subject matter of these decals span national parks, historic towns, state icons, and regional landmarks across America reflecting the growing mobility and tourism boom that followed the expansion of U.S. highways and national park visitation in the mid-twentieth century.
These decals, are from the late 1940s - 1950s and come with their original glassine sleeve that include application instructions and the original purchase price of $1. Travelers would soak the decal briefly, slide it free from the paper backing, and apply it to car windows, luggage, trunks, scrapbooks, or travel journals. Gas stations, tourist cabins, curio shops, national park gift stores, and roadside stands commonly sold these decals for a few cents each, often displayed on racks alongside pennants, postcards, and matchbooks. The decals were purchased as a practical souvenir, and a self-expressive travel badge, allowing motorists to build a visual record of the places they had visited.
About the Lindgren Brothers
The Lindgren Brothers of Spokane, Washington; most notably illustrator Arthur “Jolly” Lindgren, were mid-twentieth-century commercial artists known for producing pictorial maps and the brightly colored travel decals widely sold across the American West. Beginning in the 1930s, they created simple, bold designs featuring national parks, towns, and regional landmarks, printed through efficient screen-printing methods. Their work was distributed through gas stations, motels, and curio shops, becoming popular souvenirs for motorists during the rise of automobile travel. Their output remains a distinctive part of American roadside and tourism history.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622