Description
The first organized competition of winter sports at Dartmouth began in 1910 and was called “Winter Carnival” starting in 1912. It became an annual intercollegiate competition not long after, and later became international. As the event grew, it expanded from downhill and cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and snowshoe race competitions to include other festive events. A poster advertising the event was issued in 1911, and the tradition of creating one or two posters annually begin in 1935. The posters apparently were designed by art students, either at Dartmouth or other schools, as indicated in credits in the lower margin. Some of the artists went on to successful professional careers in illustration art. Based on extant examples, students at Dartmouth at the time the posters were issued often kept them as souvenirs after graduation. The posters are now highly prized by art and memorabilia collectors; they are at once examples of sporting art, and also a reflection of the art style and social history of the respective times they were created.
Full publication credits, lower margins: “Ostberg. Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, N.Y. School of Fine and Applied Arts. Litho in U.S.A.”
Condition: Generally fine overall, uncirculated with strong original color and no need for it to be backed. Nonetheless, with some light handling and wear.
References:
Horrell, Jeffrey. “Posters: About.” Dartmouth College Library. 6 December 2021. https://www.dartmouth.edu/library/digital/collections/other/about.html (13 February 2023).
Ostberg. “Dartmouth Winter Carnival, Feb. 10-11, 1939.” Dartmouth Winter Carnival Posters. https://doiorg/10.1349/ddip.1294 (13 February 2023).
