c.1960 Original SAS London Travel Poster – Otto Nielsen Westminster & River Thames

An original SAS London travel poster featuring Otto Nielsen’s atmospheric view of the Houses of Parliament across the River Thames. Tugboats sit in the foreground beneath a sweeping sky, with a small aircraft overhead. Soft greens, pale yellows and touches of pink give the scene a gentle, painterly quality, complemented by blue London lettering and the distinctive SAS emblem below. Printed in Copenhagen by Axel Andreasen & Sønner, this example comes from an old travel agency collection, where it was stored flat from new.

Printing method: colour offset lithography on paper
Printed by Axel Andreasen & Sønner, Copenhagen.
Provenance: 981131
Artist: Otto Nielsen, with his small “ON” monogram in the artwork
Dimensions: 39 in x 25 in (100 cm x 62 cm)

Otto Nielsen (1916–2000) was a Danish artist and illustrator whose posters helped shape SAS’s advertising for several decades. He created around 40 airline posters and illustrated annual SAS calendars between 1953 and 1976, travelling widely for inspiration. His London design shows his softer, more atmospheric style: the buildings emerge through mist and reflected light, while a tiny aircraft connects the landscape with air travel.

The tiny white “ON” monogram visible at the lower left of the illustrated area is consistent with Nielsen’s signature.

Uses SAS’s original 1950s three-shield crown logo (representing Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) and features the silhouette of a 1950s long-range four-engine airliner (DC-6/DC-7 era) flying above. 

SAS was formed in 1946 through cooperation between the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish national airlines. Its posters became an important expression of postwar Scandinavian graphic design—usually restrained typography combined with unusually painterly destination imagery.

Because of the age of these posters, there are areas of wear and tear, particularly on the edges. I have done my best to take photos where they are torn or stained. The good news is that when framed, the tears press up well against glass, and edges can be hidden by mats. Any wear picked up from years are part of the vintage charm.

When framed these colourful and detailed posters, with vibrant colours can become a centre piece for any room, to remind us of a simpler time.

These posters are sent as unframed. They will be delivered in a cardboard tube for protection.

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