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UnknownOriginal circa 1970 travel poster by Intourist - Luxury cruises aboard MorflotCirca 1970
Circa 1970
$960.72
£711.56
€800
CA$1,314.21
A$1,430.27
CHF 758.18
MX$17,207.22
NOK 9,616.21
SEK 8,798.16
DKK 6,096.14
About the Item
This original circa 1970 travel poster, produced by Intourist, the official Soviet state travel agency, offers a captivating glimpse into the golden age of Cold War-era tourism. Promoting luxury cruises aboard Morflot passenger ships, the poster invites Western and international travelers to explore the vast maritime borders of the USSR—from the Baltic and North Seas to the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and the Sea of Japan.
Dominated by a brilliant photograph of a Morflot cruise liner gleaming on calm open waters, the image exudes both modernity and state-controlled elegance. The expansive ocean foreground and the distant port skyline capture the allure of maritime exploration during a time when Soviet soft power was increasingly exercised through culture, sport, and—unexpectedly—tourism.
Intourist, established in 1929, was responsible for presenting a curated, idealized version of the USSR to foreign visitors. By the 1970s, their travel campaigns became increasingly polished, leveraging photography and design to market everything from classical ballet and grand architecture to remote natural wonders and ocean voyages. This poster is a striking example of this visual diplomacy—offering a rare, optimistic image of Soviet openness and luxury.
The typography and layout are unmistakably mid-century, with clean sans-serif fonts in vivid ocean blue, complementing the tranquil maritime photography above. Below, the listed destinations reflect the vast geographic reach of the Soviet Union’s coastlines and its ambitions as a global power: the Baltic, North Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Sea of Japan—each steeped in history, mythology, and geopolitical resonance.
Printed for French-speaking markets, this particular edition highlights the USSR’s efforts to attract European tourists through regulated yet alluring travel experiences. These cruises, often operated on repurposed or purpose-built ocean liners under the Morflot fleet (the Soviet Ministry of the Merchant Marine), provided a tightly managed yet genuinely luxurious experience for visitors seeking adventure behind the Iron Curtain.
Today, this poster stands as a rare and evocative artifact of Cold War-era travel propaganda—both a celebration of mid-century design and a window into a highly orchestrated vision of Soviet openness and modernity. With its minimalist aesthetic, photographic strength, and historical context, it is an exceptional acquisition for collectors of vintage travel posters, Soviet design, or 20th-century political ephemera.
Shipping Company - Tourism - USSR - Russia
In the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, in the Sea of Japan
- Creation Year:Circa 1970
- Dimensions:Height: 38.19 in (97 cm)Width: 23.63 in (60 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Condition:Good condition, one crease.
- Gallery Location:PARIS, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1792216425052
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