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One sheet vintage tourism advertisement for Cairo, Egypt, featuring the prominent Egyptian cat goddess Bastet.
Key Elements of the Poster:
• The Text: The bottom displays "KAIRO" alongside "V.A.R.", which stands for the United Arab Republic (U.A.R. in English). This was a political union between Egypt and Syria that existed under this name primarily from 1958 to 1961 (though Egypt continued to use the official name until 1971).
• The Emblem: In the top right corner is the official emblem for the 1967 International Tourist Year, a global initiative organized by the United Nations to promote international travel. This dates the specific publication or distribution of this version of the poster to circa 1967.
• The Artwork: A striking bronze-toned sculpture of Bastet is depicted sitting in the foreground against a deep blue and teal textured background. In the lower left, an stylized silhouette of the Cairo skyline, complete with minarets and a glowing moon, adds a scenic regional touch.
The artist of this vintage travel poster is Mohamed Ismael (often signed simply as Ismail).
Key Details About the Artist & Signature:
• The Signature: You can spot his signature printed vertically in the top-left corner of the poster as "ISMAIL".
• Historical Context: Mohamed Ismael was a prominent Egyptian graphic designer and illustrator who created several iconic travel advertisements for the Egyptian State Tourist Administration during the mid-20th century.
His distinct graphic style often merged ancient Egyptian iconography—like the majestic Bastet cat shown here—with bold typography and atmospheric architectural backgrounds to market the country to international travelers. |
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