Leslie Darrell Ragan Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Leslie Darrell Ragan Art Value Price Guide

Jul. 11, 2024
New York Central System / Twilight on the Hudson River.
Est: $1,700 - $2,000
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 16 x 21 3/4 in./40.5 x 55.3 cm PRINTER: DESCRIPTION: The New York Central’s Empire State Express achieved world renown early in its long career with locomotive 999’s record-setting run of 112.5 miles per hour in 1891. Decades later, the train was one of the first equipped with streamlined cars by the Central, although its inaugural run was overshadowed by world events on December 7, 1941. In this early evening view of the Empire State Express cruising along the Central's well-manicured four-track mainline, Ragan effectively uses single-point perspective to draw the eye down the polished rails toward New York City, just beyond the welcoming horizon. (Art Deco; Travel; Railway; American; New York)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Jul. 11, 2024
The New 20th Century Limited. 1938.
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 27 x 40 1/2 in./68.6 x 102.8 cm PRINTER: DESCRIPTION: This is one of the greatest, most iconic images in the history of American art. “In June 1938, the New 20th Century Limited... made its debut. To mark the occasion, Ragan created a poster that became the archetype of American streamliner designs. His rendering left locomotive driving wheels and gadgetry in shadow, instead focusing on the Century’s distinctive satin-finished crescent-shaped prow as it caught the morning sunlight while streaming alongside the Hudson River, New York City-bound" (Travel By Train, p. 124). (Art Deco; Travel; Railway; American; New York)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Jul. 06, 2024
Leslie Ragan - Vintage Advertising Poster
Est: $70 - $80
Leslie Ragan - Vintage Advertising Poster. Offset Lithograph. 26 x 36. Very good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
Jul. 03, 2024
NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD POSTER BY LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $400 - $600
Original poster calendar top 'The New York State Empire Passing West Point in the Highlands of the Hudson on the New York Central System' by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) for the year 1942. Professionally mounted and framed. Image size 15.5 x 20.5 inches, overall frame size approx. 24.75 x 27 inches, ready for hanging.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Jun. 15, 2024
Leslie Ragan - Vintage Advertising Poster
Est: $70 - $80
Leslie Ragan - Vintage Advertising Poster. Offset Lithograph. 26 x 36. Very good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
May. 26, 2024
Leslie Ragan - Vintage Advertising Poster
Est: $70 - $80
Leslie Ragan - Vintage Advertising Poster. Offset Lithograph. 26 x 36. Very good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
May. 16, 2024
LESLIE RAGAN - THE NEW 20TH CENTURY LIMITED NEW YORK
Est: $200 - $400
Lot 61 Leslie Ragan American (1897-1972) The New 20th Century Limited New York lithograph reproduction sight: 35 x 23 1/2 inches frame dimensions: 38 1/2 x 27 x 1 inches, wood frame with glazing Provenance: From the Collection of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Capsule Gallery Auction
May. 06, 2024
UNITED NATIONS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM POSTER BY LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $160 - $300
WWI American propaganda poster 'The United Nations Fight For Freedom', artwork by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972), OWI Poster No. 79, U.S. Government Printing Office 1943. One horizontal fold. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. Very good.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Apr. 20, 2024
Original 1940s American WW II Poster LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $300 - $500
Ragan, Leslie Darrell 1897 - 1972 United - The United Nations fight for Freedom Offset 1943 27.9 x 20 in. (71 x 51 cm) Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office Condition Details: (B+/A-) was folded, on linen (old), small tears and minor creasing at the edges and in image, minor wear at the fold#USA #World War II #United Nations
PosterConnection Inc.
Mar. 03, 2024
Free a Man to Fight. 1943.
Est: $1,400 - $1,700
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 20 x 27 7/8 in./50.6 x 70.8 cm PRINTER: Brett Lithographic Co., USA DESCRIPTION: While Ragan's best work was created in promotion of travel aboard the New York Central System, here he advertises the many jobs available to women at his primary employer. From the offices and shops to the more technical positions at the stations and on the trains, each woman working at New York Central would allow another man to fight overseas. (War & Propaganda; Food/Drink; American)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Feb. 06, 2024
Original Poster by Leslie Ragan - The United Nations Fight For Freedom
Est: $400 - $800
The naval and armed forces of the allied countries of World War II are united in this 1943 American issued poster by Leslie Ragan. Ragan was well known for his travel posters that featured billowing clouds as well as his art deco sensibilities, which can be seen in this artwork. This poster reflects the theme of "United." The "United" theme is carried through a number of posters of this era and were used as a rally for the home front, but also served as a reminder of the United States' allies in the war. This includes awareness of Stalin's Soviet Russia as a friend in the aftermath of Nazi Germany's 1941 betrayal of the country. Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) studied at the Cumming School of Art as well as the Art Institute of Chicago. He served in the Air Force during World War I before entering into his illustrious graphic arts career. Ragan is mostly known for his iconic travel posters of New York and Chicago, as well as his many illustrations of locomotives during the art deco era. This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is printed on paper and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.
The Ross Art Group, Inc
Jan. 08, 2024
Original 1944 Leslie Ragan New York Central System: "The Century in The Highlands of The Hudson" Poster Calendar COMPLETE
Est: $2,500 - $3,500
Leslie Darrell Ragan (1897 - 1972) was active/lived in California, Iowa, Oregon. Leslie Ragan is known for Illustrator-trains through landscape. Ragan was a specialty illustrator who was well known for his paintings of machines moving fast through landscapes (especially trains). Ragan transposed his streamlined locomotive previously seen on the banks of the Hudson (see PAI-LXXXIII, 441) into the autumnal splendor of the Hudson Highlands. Very few changes have been made to the 20th Century, but the change in location highlights the technological marvel of design and transportation as it simultaneously generates a panoramic reason to ride the rails. This poster includes the December 1944 calendar with metal strips at top and bottom. Please ask specific questions on details, condition, and shipping prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, and the bidder will be responsible for payment. We box and ship what we can to keep costs low, and use USPS and UPS. Large items, extremely fragile, and high value items will be packed by UPS. Quotes available on request
One Source Auctions
Dec. 17, 2023
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System"
Est: $30 - $40
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System", 2000, 23.5 x 31.5, there is a small bent on the top right corner of the print, good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
Dec. 14, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN "New York Central."
Est: $5,000 - $7,500
LESLIE RAGAN "New York Central." Proposal for an unpublished calendar, 1945/1946 . Gouache on board. 483x381 mm; 19x15 inches. Signed in lower right image. Believed to be an original painting commissioned for the New York Central Railroad in 1945 or 1946, the work was destined to be used on a New York Central calendar, but the calendar was not produced due to the second World War. The painting was salvaged by a NY Central Railroad employee in the 1970s.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 26, 2023
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System"
Est: $30 - $40
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System", 2000, 23.5 x 31.5, there is a small bent on the top right corner of the print, good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
Nov. 12, 2023
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System"
Est: $30 - $40
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System", 2000, 23.5 x 31.5, there is a small bent on the top right corner of the print, good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
Nov. 12, 2023
New York Central System / The Century in the Highlands of the Hudson. ca. 1938.
Est: $3,000 - $4,000
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 16 x 21 1/8 in./40.8 x 53.6 cm PRINTER: DESCRIPTION: Cognizant of the fact that superior graphics can be transplanted into different surroundings with an equally stunning impact, Ragan transposed his streamlined locomotive previously seen on the banks of the Hudson (see PAI-XC, 405) into the autumnal splendor of the Hudson Highlands. Very few changes have been made to the 20th Century—the design was also used as a calendar—but the change in location highlights the technological marvel of design and transportation as it simultaneously generates a panoramic reason to ride the rails. (Art Deco; Travel; Railway; New York; American)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Nov. 09, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). THE NEW EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS / NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM. 1941. 36x26 inches, 91½x66 cm. Brett Lithographing C
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) THE NEW EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS / NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM. 1941. 36x26 inches, 91 1/2x66 cm. Brett Lithographing Company, [New York.] Condition B+: replaced top margin; restoration along creases and abrasions in text and across image; overpainting in upper right corner. Steaming through an autumn landscape while making the run between New York City and Buffalo, this powerful engine rounds a bend so that its rear car is also visible. In 1891, the Empire State Express made its first trip. On her 50th anniversary in 1941, the New York Central Line inaugurated the "New" Empire State Express. According to the hyperbolic commentary written in a booklet released by the railroad for the occasion, this train, "which is truly magnificent [is] as completely comfortable as modern science can make it." The railroad also used this poster image for the cover of a brochure. Zega 154.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 09, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). SEE AMERICA / RAILROADS OF THE UNITED STATES CANADA & MEXICO. 1939. 39¼x25 inches, 99½x63½ cm.
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SEE AMERICA / RAILROADS OF THE UNITED STATES CANADA & MEXICO. 1939. 39 1/4x25 inches, 99 1/2x63 1/2 cm. Condition B+: small replaced losses, repaired tears, creases and restoration in margins and along vertical and horizontal folds; repaired pin holes around edges; unobtrusive ink marks in margins. The visual splendors of North America (human, structural and natural), displayed in collage-like fashion against an impressive backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. A North American cross-promotional campaign sponsored by American, Mexican and Canadian railroad companies, "urging visitors to use America's railroads to attend both the New York and San Francisco Fairs" (World's Fair p. 218). Pictured, aside from the three central figures, are a streamlined train, a steel mill in the heart of industrial America, a building in the Rockefeller Center complex in Manhattan, a California Mission and Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac. World of Tomorrow p. 218, Zega 153.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 09, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). THE NEW UNION TERMINAL / CLEVELAND. 1930. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x68½ cm. Latham Litho & Ptg Co., Long Island Ci
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) THE NEW UNION TERMINAL / CLEVELAND. 1930. 40 3/4x27 inches, 103 1/2x68 1/2 cm. Latham Litho & Ptg Co., Long Island City. Condition B+: expertly-repaired tears at edges, one through text; minor overpainting at edges; creases and minor abrasions in margins and image. A monumental image of a monumental building, shown bathed in the fiery orange of a dramatic sunset, which cloaks its shadowed side in lavender, and each of its wings in a different color. Rising 52 stories above Cleveland's Public Square, the terminal was the second tallest building in the world in 1930. The massive urban redevelopment that accompanied its construction foreshadowed Rockefeller Center in New York City. "Ragan framed his subject with dark silhouettes of adjacent buildings, painting a dream-like sunset image . . . alternating expanses of flat color with intense detail, a scheme that characterized his later work" (Zega p. 95). This was the second poster that Ragan designed for the New York Central Lines. Zega 120.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 09, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). CHICAGO / NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES. 1929. 40¾x27 inches, 103½x89½ cm. Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island Ci
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) CHICAGO / NEW YORK CENTRAL LINES. 1929. 40 3/4x27 inches, 103 1/2x89 1/2 cm. Latham Litho. & Ptg. Co., Long Island City. Condition B+: overpainting in margins; light tape stains in top margin; small repaired tears at edges; minor creases and abrasions in margins and image. This was Ragan's first poster for the New York Central Lines, "a cityscape of Chicago's Michigan Avenue dominated by a towering midday thunderhead . . . [in which he conveyed his newly-emerging style with] reflected light and building mass" (Zega p. 95). It shows the city's original Peristyle, designed by Edward H. Bennett, which was erected in Grant Park in 1917 and survived until it was razed in the early 1950s due to poor condition. The impressive architecture of the North Michigan Avenue streetwall features the Willoughby and Montgomery Ward Towers. Zega 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 29, 2023
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System"
Est: $30 - $40
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System", 2000, 23.5 x 31.5, there is a small bent on the top right corner of the print, good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
Oct. 18, 2023
NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD BY LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $400 - $600
Calendar top of 'The New York State Empire Passing West Point in the Highlands of the Hudson on the New York Central System' after the painting by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) for the year 1942. Original calendar top, mounted, and professionally framed as shown. Image size 15.5 x 20.5 inches, overall frame size approx. 24.75 x 27 inches, ready for hanging.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Oct. 18, 2023
VISTA DOME NORTH COAST LIMITED POSTER LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $140 - $160
Original Lithograph for Northern Pacific Railway 'The Vista-Dome North Coast Limited' after the painting by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972). Lithographed in USA. Small 1-inch repaired tear left margin, minor creases bottom edge. 25 x 34 inches.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Oct. 17, 2023
Original Poster by Leslie Ragan - The United Nations Fight For Freedom
Est: $400 - $800
The naval and armed forces of the allied countries of World War II are united in this 1943 American issued poster by Leslie Ragan. Ragan was well known for his travel posters that featured billowing clouds as well as his art deco sensibilities, which can be seen in this artwork. This poster reflects the theme of "United." The "United" theme is carried through a number of posters of this era and were used as a rally for the home front, but also served as a reminder of the United States' allies in the war. This includes awareness of Stalin's Soviet Russia as a friend in the aftermath of Nazi Germany's 1941 betrayal of the country. Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) studied at the Cumming School of Art as well as the Art Institute of Chicago. He served in the Air Force during World War I before entering into his illustrious graphic arts career. Ragan is mostly known for his iconic travel posters of New York and Chicago, as well as his many illustrations of locomotives during the art deco era. This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster is printed on paper and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.
The Ross Art Group, Inc
Oct. 15, 2023
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System"
Est: $30 - $40
Leslie Ragan - "New York Central System", 2000, 23.5 x 31.5, there is a small bent on the top right corner of the print, good condition
Bruce Teleky Inc.
Sep. 15, 2023
Print, Leslie Darrell Ragan
Est: $600 - $900
Leslie Darrell Ragan (American, 1897-1972), "The New Union Terminal, Cleveland," lithographic travel poster in colors, signed in plate lower right, printed by Latham Litho & PTG. Co., Long Island City, sheet (unframed/on linen): 40.5"h x 27"w
Clars Auctions
Jul. 18, 2023
New York Central / 20th Century Limited. 1938.
Est: $14,000 - $17,000
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 27 1/8 x 40 7/8 in./69 x 104 cm PRINTER: Latham Litho., New York DESCRIPTION: “Each of [Ragan’s] railway designs, bathed in a Norman Rockwellesque light, presents a perfect beacon of homegrown industry calmly traversing the serene American landscape. Although rail service between Chicago and New York was no groundbreaking concept in 1938, that summer saw the debut of a new, streamlined style of train designed by Henry Dreyfuss. No longer a clunky piece of machinery, the new 20th Century Limited, with its clean lines and simple shape, redefined how the world looked at locomotives, leading the New York Central Railroad to dub it the ‘most famous train in the world’... The finest attention to detail was present, right down to the matchbooks available onboard. Even before one got on the train, a red carpet was rolled out to make the service feel all the more exclusive and posh. Those incidental luxuries, however, are not alluded to in this poster: the image of the engine quietly rolling by the Hudson River toward New York’s Grand Central Station is itself enough to fill the viewer with a sense of awe” (Crouse/Deco, p. 262). (Art Deco; Railway; Travel; American; New York)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Jul. 18, 2023
Free a Man to Fight. 1943.
Est: $1,400 - $1,700
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 19 7/8 x 27 3/4 in./50.5 x 70.6 cm PRINTER: Brett Lithographing Co., USA DESCRIPTION: While Ragan's best work was created in promotion of travel aboard the New York Central System (see No. 405), here he advertises the many jobs available to women at his primary employer. From the offices and shops to the more technical positions at the stations and on the trains, each woman working at New York Central would allow another man to fight overseas. (War & Propaganda; American)
Poster Auctions International Inc
May. 13, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN 'NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM' POSTER
Est: $60 - $80
Leslie Ragan poster for New York Central System. Signed in the plate to image lower left. Measures 23 1/2" x 17 1/2" + 3 1/2" mat & frame.
Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery
Apr. 26, 2023
UNITED NATIONS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM POSTER BY LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $120 - $200
WWI American propaganda poster 'The United Nations Fight For Freedom', artwork by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972), OWI Poster No. 79, U.S. Government Printing Office 1943. One horizontal fold. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. Very good.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Apr. 03, 2023
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY POSTER LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $200 - $300
Northern Pacific Railway poster 'The Vista-Dome North Coast Limited' by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972). Lithographed in USA. Small 1-inch repaired tear left margin, minor creases bottom edge. 25 x 34 inches. Very good.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Apr. 03, 2023
UNITED NATIONS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM POSTER BY LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $160 - $300
WWI American propaganda poster 'The United Nations Fight For Freedom', artwork by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972), OWI Poster No. 79, U.S. Government Printing Office 1943. One horizontal fold. 7.5 x 10.5 inches. Very good.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Mar. 26, 2023
New York Central / West Point. 1934.
Est: $1,700 - $2,000
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 16 x 33 3/8 in./40.5 x 85 cm DESCRIPTION: Perched high on the west bank of the Hudson River north of New York City, West Point served as the site of forts guarding the Hudson during the Revolutionary War. It has also served as the seat of the United States military academy since 1802. For the New York Central System’s Empire State Express, Ragan depicts one of New York Central’s trains zooming past a dramatically lit background. This variant includes the “Scenic Water Level Route” map at bottom. (Art Deco; Travel; Railway; New York; American)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Mar. 26, 2023
New York Central System / For the Public Service. 1946.
Est: $2,000 - $2,500
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 15 7/8 x 33 1/4 in./40.5 x 84.5 cm DESCRIPTION: In 1867, the American railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt became president of the New York Central Railroad, and through a series of mergers he formed the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. By 1930, having absorbed other large rail companies and reverted back to its original name, the New York Central was one of the leading lines connecting the Eastern seaboard with Midwestern cities. This rare full poster with map in the lower register—set at Chicago’s La Salle Street Station with the Ceres-topped Board of Trade Building towering in the background—proudly displays each engine model of the Central fleet, from the old-fashioned steam engine to the postwar marvel of the Diesel, and the Streamlined Steam model—The Twentieth Century Limited—designed by Henry Dreyfuss. (Modern; Travel; Railway; American)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Mar. 18, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN 'NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM' POSTER
Est: $60 - $80
Leslie Ragan poster for New York Central System. Signed in the plate to image lower left. Measures 23 1/2" x 17 1/2" + 3 1/2" mat & frame.
Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery
Feb. 28, 2023
Original Vintage WWII Poster Free a Man to Fight by Leslie Ragan 1943 Rare Board
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
This powerful poster for the New York Central System recalls the iconic Rosie the Riveter image as a determined woman oils a locomotive wheel. In WW2, as men joined the war, women were called in to fill their spaces in production lines and industrial jobs. The War Manpower commission created in February 1942 was established to increase the manufacturing of war materials and had the task of hiring women to support the Homefront. Images like Rosie the Riveter and the woman depicted on this poster by Leslie Ragan were imperative to the campaign to recruit women in largely industrial jobs. These images demonstrate the strength of women and their crucial role in the American workforce. Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) studied at the Cumming School of Art as well as the Art Institute of Chicago. He served in the Air Force during World War I before entering his illustrious graphic arts career. Ragan is mostly known for his iconic travel posters of New York and Chicago, as well as his many illustrations of locomotives during the art deco era. This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster was printed on thin cardboard to be used as a display, and it is in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.
The Ross Art Group, Inc
Feb. 25, 2023
ART DECO POSTER NY CENTRAL SYSTEM BY LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $100 - $150
A color reproduction on canvas of an Art Deco poster by Leslie Darrell Ragan, 1897 to 1972, an American artist. The print depicts a New York Central System train. Signed by the artist in the lower left. Dated 1939. Inscription on the bottom: The New 20th-Century Limited, New York 16 Hours Chicago, New York Central System. Published by Poster Plus in 1998. Collectible Wall Art Prints For Interior Design.
Antique Arena Inc
Feb. 02, 2023
Trio of WWII Propaganda Ephemera
Est: $100 - $200
Three piece lot of US WWII propaganda ephemera. Includes a 1943 "United Nations Fight for Freedom" WPA poster by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) (OWI poster No. 79), a Keep 'em Flying paper sign from the US Army Recruiting Service and a 1943 "I'm Counting on You! Don't Discuss Troop Movements, Ship Sailings, War Equipment" poster by Leon Helguera (1899-1970) (OWI poster no. 78). OWI posters are 10 1/2" x 7 1/2" and Keep 'em Flying is 11" x 3 1/2". All three have poster board behind them and have protective covering.
Embassy Auctions International
Feb. 02, 2023
Trio of Vintage WWII Propaganda Ephemera
Est: $60 - $120
Three piece lot of US WWII propaganda ephemera. Includes a vintage birthday card about rations, a "United Nations Fight for Freedom" WPA war propaganda poster No. 79 by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) and a small paper sign that reads "Keep Em Flying" from the U.S. Army Recruiting Office. All three have poster board behind them and have protective covering. The United poster measures 10 1/2" x 7 1/2".
Embassy Auctions International
Jan. 21, 2023
LESLIE RAGAN 'NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM' POSTER
Est: $80 - $120
Leslie Ragan poster for New York Central System. Signed in the plate to image lower left. Measures 23 1/2" x 17 1/2" + 3 1/2" mat & frame.
Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery
Jan. 19, 2023
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY POSTER LESLIE RAGAN
Est: $300 - $400
Northern Pacific Railway poster 'The Vista-Dome North Coast Limited' by Leslie Ragan (1897-1972), signed in print. 25 x 34 inches. USA lithograph. Small 1-inch repaired tear left margin, minor creases bottom edge, unbacked, else in good condition.
Fairhill Auction LLC
Nov. 13, 2022
New York Central System / For the Public Service. 1946.
Est: $2,000 - $2,500
ARTIST: LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) SIZE: 15 7/8 x 33 1/4 in./40.4 x 84.6 cm PRINTER: Brown & Bigelow, St. Paul, MN DESCRIPTION: In 1867, the American railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt became president of the New York Central Railroad, and through a series of mergers he formed the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. By 1930, having absorbed other large rail companies and reverted back to its original name, the New York Central was one of the leading lines connecting the Eastern seaboard with Midwestern cities. This rare full poster with map in the lower register—set at Chicago’s La Salle Street Station with the Ceres-topped Board of Trade Building towering in the background—proudly displays each engine model of the Central fleet, from the old-fashioned steam engine to the postwar marvel of the Diesel, and the Streamlined Steam model, The Twentieth Century Limited, designed by Henry Dreyfuss. (Modern; Travel; Railway; American)
Poster Auctions International Inc
Nov. 10, 2022
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). THE NEW 20TH CENTURY LIMITED. 1939. 39x26 inches, 99x66 cm. Latham Litho. Co., Long Island City.
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) THE NEW 20TH CENTURY LIMITED. 1939. 39x26 inches, 99x66 cm. Latham Litho. Co., Long Island City. Condition B+: creases and minor losses throughout image; repaired tears at edges, some into image. Framed. A powerful Art Deco image of one of the last century's most famous American trains. In the 1930s, technology began to reflect the sleek, aerodynamic lines of the Art Deco movement, and the New 20th Century Limited, designed by Henry Dreyfuss, was the pride of the New York Central Line. This image has been featured by the United States Postal Service on a series of stamps commemorating the 1930s and is among the most prominent American Art Deco posters ever designed. Zega 152, Encyclopedie de l'Affiche p. 209, Crouse p. 263, Affiches Chemin de Fer p. 107, Affiche Art Deco p. 87.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 10, 2022
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). NEW YORK / THE UPPER BAY FROM LOWER MANHATTAN. 1935. 39½x26 inches, 100½x66 inches. Latham Litho. Co., Long
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) NEW YORK / THE UPPER BAY FROM LOWER MANHATTAN. 1935. 39 1/2x26 inches, 100 1/2x66 inches. Latham Litho. Co., Long Island City. Condition A-: minor repaired tears, creases and abrasions at edges. Matted and framed. An intriguing and dramatic bird's-eye view of Battery Park, with New York harbor, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and New Jersey visible in the background. The view is, in fact, based on a photograph taken by Percy Loomis Sperr from the Observation Deck of the Cities Service Building, 70 Pine Street, in Manhattan's financial district. The building, also referred to as 60 Wall Tower, was constructed between 1930 and 1932. "[Ragan's] work exemplified the American taste for realistic depiction while highlighting the natural environment for dramatic effect . . . Ragan's sense of composition and refined wash technique made his best images burst with reflected light. . . [his] cityscapes were particularly noteworthy for their dramatic perspective and powerful massing of Deco-styled skyscrapers. Appropriately, his New York City images best communicated the sense of dynamic rhythm and energy emblematic of the skyscraper age" (Zega, p. 95ff). A 1941 photograph by Andreas Feininger was also shot from virtually this exact vantage point. Zega 127, Metzl p. 157.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 05, 2022
Original 1930s LESLIE RAGAN American Rail Travel Poster
Est: $600 - $900
Ragan, Leslie Darrell 1897 - 1972 Norfolk and Western Railway - A Century of Service Letterpress Print 1938 27.9 x 22 in. (71 x 56 cm) Printer: no information Condition Details: (A) on linen#USA #Travel #Trains
PosterConnection Inc.
Oct. 18, 2022
Original Vintage WWII Poster Free a Man to Fight by Leslie Ragan 1943 Rare Board
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
This powerful poster for the New York Central System recalls the iconic Rosie the Riveter image as a determined woman oils a locomotive wheel. In WW2, as men joined the war, women were called in to fill their spaces in production lines and industrial jobs. The War Manpower commission created in February 1942 was established to increase the manufacturing of war materials and had the task of hiring women to support the Homefront. Images like Rosie the Riveter and the woman depicted on this poster by Leslie Ragan were imperative to the campaign to recruit women in largely industrial jobs. These images demonstrate the strength of women and their crucial role in the American workforce. Leslie Ragan (1897-1972) studied at the Cumming School of Art as well as the Art Institute of Chicago. He served in the Air Force during World War I before entering his illustrious graphic arts career. Ragan is mostly known for his iconic posters of New York and Chicago, as well as his many illustrations of locomotives during the art deco era. This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. This poster was printed on thin cardboard to be used as a display, and it is in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.
The Ross Art Group, Inc
Aug. 04, 2022
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972). WEST POINT / NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM. 1952. 41¼x27 inches, 104¾x68½ cm.
Est: $800 - $1,200
LESLIE RAGAN (1897-1972) WEST POINT / NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM. 1952. 41 1/4x27 inches, 104 3/4x68 1/2 cm. Condition A: minor creases in margins. Paper. Leslie Ragan studied briefly at the Cumming School of Art in Des Moines and the Art Institute in Chicago. He designed posters for the United States during the Second World War, but his largest account was with the New York Central Lines. "His work exemplified the American taste for realistic depiction while highlighting the natural environment for dramatic effect . . . Ragan's sense of composition and refined wash technique made his best images burst with reflected light" (Zega p. 95).
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