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AED‘Navajo Land’ Santa Fe Railroad Travel Poster Designed by Willard Frederick Elms
Timed Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $50 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $1,000 | $50 |
| $3,000 | $100 |
About Auction
TimedMay 3, 2026 - May 17, 2026
Annex Auctions gm@annexauctions.com
View Full Catalog (436)
- Lot Description
A framed Santa Fe Railroad travel poster titled "Navajo Land" designed by Willard Frederick Elms.
Willard Frederick Elms (1900–1956) was an American illustrator, poster artist, and painter known for commercial art, advertising imagery, and later Southwestern landscapes and Native American genre scenes. He worked in both Chicago and Arizona during a career that bridged commercial illustration and fine art.
Elms was born in 1900 and received his artistic training at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he later served as an art instructor. During his early career he operated his own studio in Chicago and became established as a commercial illustrator and poster designer, producing advertising and promotional artwork. One of his major clients was Sears, Roebuck & Company, for whom he created illustrations used in catalog and promotional materials. In addition to his art career, Elms also worked as a radio announcer for WGN in Chicago, an unusual dual career that reflected the broad creative industries of the era.
Elms developed a reputation for bold graphic posters and advertising art, including transportation and corporate promotional imagery typical of early-to-mid-20th-century American commercial design. His poster work often combined strong composition, simplified forms, and dynamic lettering, aligning with the visual language of American advertising during the 1920s–1940s. Many of these works later became collectible examples of vintage poster design.
Later in life Elms relocated to Arizona, settling in Tucson around 1949. There he shifted much of his focus from commercial illustration to painting scenes of the Southwest. His later work frequently depicted Arizona landscapes, the San Xavier del Bac Mission, and Native American figures, subjects that reflected the regional artistic interests of mid-century Southwestern painters.
Elms died in 1956. Today his work appears periodically at auction and in collections of vintage poster art, with his posters and illustrations representing the most widely traded part of his oeuvre.
Dimensions: 26.5” x 20.5” framed. 23” x 17” sight
This lot may be picked up free of charge from our facilities in Sacramento, CA. Processing and shipping within the Continental US $85.00. All FedEx packages are sent with Direct Signature Required and insured at full replacement value for a fee of 1.5% of the purchase price, unless buyer accepts complete liability in writing. Discounts given on combined lot shipping.
Condition
Not examined out of frame. One pin hole visible lower right corner. Please see photos.
- Shipping Info
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Processing and shipping details are located in the description of each lot. All FedEx packages are sent with Direct Signature Required and insured at full replacement value for a fee of 1.5% of the purchase price, unless buyer accepts complete liability in writing. Discounts given on combined lot shipping.
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