Tai Planisphère Circa 1950

This enchanting original circa 1950 airline poster by French naval officer and artist Luc-Marie Bayle was created for TAI (Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux), one of France’s most prestigious intercontinental airlines prior to its merger into UTA.

The poster presents a richly illustrated planisphère (world map), delicately blending cartographic accuracy with whimsical fantasy. Bayle’s meticulous hand creates a double-hemisphere projection filled with lively imagery: from hot-air balloons and caravels to mythical creatures, medieval compass roses, and aeronautical routes in vibrant red and blue lines tracing TAI’s global flight network.

Above the map sits the golden-winged TAI insignia, flanked by vintage flying machines and celestial motifs. The oceans teem with galleons and sea monsters, while the continents are dotted with symbols of history, culture, and adventure—transforming a travel route map into a poetic exploration of the post-war world.

Bayle’s unique fusion of naive illustration, maritime romanticism, and aviation optimism reflects the spirit of an era when commercial flight promised glamour, wonder, and international reach.

This poster stands not just as a promotional piece but as a masterwork of 20th-century travel art—a collector’s gem for lovers of aviation history, vintage maps, and mid-century French graphic design.

Map

Hubert Baille Paris

Good condition, a small tear on the left