The poster, designed by Kenneth Shoesmith for Southern Railway, dates back to 1939 and depicts an artist’s impression of The Pantiles.
It was created to attract people to the town, which it described as a ‘sunny inland resort of romantic charm in loveliest Kent’.
The pre-war poster is expected to fetch between $700 and $1,000 [£550 – £775] when it is auctioned off by Swann Auction Galleries in New York on November 14.
A number of designs in this Rare & Important Travel Posters auction were originally aimed at American audiences and were conceived by artists who were successful in other fields, making them highly collectable.
But Principal Auctioneer, Nicho Lowry, told the Times: “This is very specifically a case of ‘Location, Location, Location’. This poster would almost exclusively appeal to someone who is in some manner connected to the town of Tunbridge Wells.
“People whose family comes from that town, or people who have vacationed there, will likely find it quite appealing.”
The complete catalogue and bidding information and live online bidding details are available at swanngalleries.com
