These brilliant posters tell the tale of Thomas Cook’s storied 178-year history

The collapse of Thomas Cook Group marks the end of a tour operator that has been around since 1841. When the company celebrated its 175th birthday, Thomas Cook released travel posters and related photos and videos illustrating its journey, including this one from 1919 which touted it was the first to offer ‘pleasure trips by air.’ Read More...

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The collapse of Thomas Cook Group TCG, +0.00% marks the end of a tour operator that has been around since 1841. When the company celebrated its 175th birthday, Thomas Cook released travel posters and related photos and videos illustrating its journey, including this one from 1919 which touted it was the first to offer “pleasure trips by air.”

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In 1868, Thomas Cook rented steam ships to take his party on a cruise along the Nile.

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Thomas Cook said it was the first to organize an escorted trip from Cairo to Cape Town in 1922.

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Thomas Cook became an agent for shipping lines from the late 19th century. This poster is from the 1920s.

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This poster from the 1950s advertised journeys to Spain and Portugal

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Also from the 1950s, Thomas Cook advertised opening a window to the world.

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This 1970s era art had a groovier feel.

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After the movie “Destination Moon” was released, Thomas Cook began a Moon Registry — and 100,000 had signed up by the time it closed in 1996. Alas, none made it into orbit.

Financial journalist Peter Hoskins on his Twitter account has posted even more art.

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After the movie “Destination Moon” was released, Thomas Cook began a Moon Registry — and 100,000 had signed up by the time it closed in 1996. Alas, none made it into orbit.

Financial journalist Peter Hoskins on his Twitter account has posted even more art.