New York World's Fair Set of Three

This striking and rare set of three original posters was created for the 1939 New York World's Fair, each capturing a different facet of the Fair’s bold vision of “The World of Tomorrow.” Designed respectively by Albert Staehle, John Atherton, and Joseph Binder, the trio forms a cohesive visual statement celebrating progress, optimism, and the new American modernism emerging on the eve of World War II.The poster on the left, by Albert Staehle (1899–1974), presents a cheerful, forward-looking scene featuring a young woman greeting the future with an exuberant gesture. Staehle was a prominent American illustrator best known for his iconic advertising work and magazine covers, especially his widely beloved images for Saturday Evening Post. His style combined warmth, clarity, and a refined sense of character, all of which appear in this upbeat Fair composition.The central poster is by John Atherton (1900–1952), an American painter and illustrator celebrated for his sophisticated graphic style and his influential contributions to mid-century commercial art. Atherton’s poster places the Trylon and Perisphere – the Fair’s defining architectural symbols – atop a stylized globe framed by a classical figure. The composition evokes the merging of antiquity with a technologically driven future, reflecting Atherton’s talent for integrating symbolic imagery with clean, modern design.The poster on the right, created by Joseph Binder (1898–1972), is a masterwork of streamlined modernism. Binder, an Austrian-born graphic artist who emigrated to the United States in the 1930s, became one of the most influential designers of the era. His hallmark use of bold geometric forms, dramatic lighting, and reduced shapes is fully realized here, where the Trylon and Perisphere glow against a deep blue night sky, accompanied by stylized aircraft and a futuristic skyline.The 1939 New York World’s Fair was one of the most important cultural events of the 20th century. Opening during the final years of the Great Depression and on the brink of global conflict, the Fair offered an inspiring vision of science, industry, and modern design. Its architectural icons, consumer innovations, transportation marvels, and utopian messaging helped shape American expectations of the future. The Fair introduced millions of visitors to streamlined design, early television, and the promise of a technologically driven tomorrow, making it a defining moment in the visual and cultural history of modern America.This is an Original Vintage Poster set, not reproductions. They are the original paper and not linen backed, and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.