1948 JOHNSON LINE FREIGHT LINER CRUISE SHIP 1SH LINEN SIGNED PRINT SWEDEN USA

44” x 28”. RARE

Awesome large scale original Johnson Line Lithograph. The Johnson Line was a freight and shipping line between Northern Europe and the West Coast of the USA.

This is what appears to be a well preserved early promotional lithograph of the Johnson Line “Seattle” ship dating 1948. The lithograph is marked “Bengstons Litografiska AB STHLM 1948” on the bottom left corner. The artist’s signature is on the upper left corner and appears to read “N. Koworshey.”

The lithograph itself is on paper which was adhered to a thicker canvas like paper. There are a couple of barely noticeable imperfections - more than likely from before the lithograph was matted to the canvas backing. A (flattened) crease is visible in the flag and there are a couple of cm long “flea bites” on the outer edge of the lithograph. See pictures.

There’s an interesting write up about the history of the Johnson Line at cruiselinehistory.com

For the European traveler during the early 1960s with more time than money, an unusual variation of the Atlantic crossing was sailing from USA west coast ports via the Panama Canal to Europe.

Fares began at $1,400 ($12,000 in today’s dollars) for the 80-day round-trip voyage, with air/sea combination with Pan American or Scandinavian Airlines system, preserving the round-trip discount. On the Johnson Line passengers could select a continental or Scandinavian gateway for their European holiday.

The Johnson Line offered the finest services for 12 passengers from aboard its fleet of eight deluxe Swedish motor-ships offering sailings every two weeks from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada.

The luxury motor ships Los Angeles, Seattle, Golden Gate, Lions Gate, Silver Gate, Portland, California, and Canada featured beautiful wood paneling in the passenger staterooms and public rooms, stewardess service, and outstanding Swedish cuisine.