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One sheet vintage travel poster, likely from the
mid-1960s, advertises "Sunlane Cruises" to the Mediterranean operated by American Export Isbrandtsen Lines. The artwork features a woman in traditional Mediterranean-style dress dancing with a tambourine, set against a colorful geometric collage of iconic regional scenes.
Historical Background
The "Sunlane" route was a prominent transatlantic service from New York to the Western Mediterranean, including stops in Italy (Naples, Genoa), France (Cannes), and Spain (Barcelona).
The Shipping Line: Originally American Export Lines, the company merged with Isbrandtsen Co. in 1964 to become American Export Isbrandtsen Lines, helping date this specific poster to the following years.
Design Influence: The posters for this line often featured vibrant, mid-century modern illustrations. This particular style is frequently attributed to the era of industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss, who oversaw the ships' aesthetic from interior decor down to matchbook covers.
The "Sunlane" Fleet
The poster lists three specific sister ships that defined the line's luxury service:
SS Independence (1951): Built by Bethlehem Steel, it was a sleek, air-conditioned liner designed for 1,000 passengers. It later transitioned to Hawaiian cruises before being scrapped in 2010.
SS Constitution (1951): The nearly identical sister to the Independence. It is famous for carrying Grace Kelly and her wedding party to Monaco in 1956.
SS Atlantic (1953): Originally the Badger Mariner, it was converted into a passenger ship for American Export Lines in 1958 to supplement the Sunlane route. |
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