Vintage Beijing Peking slides, illustrated box, 1980s China souvenir

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This lot consists of a slide case presented in a rigid box, containing tourist slides on the theme of Beijing, China. The cover visible in the photo bears the inscription "Characteristic Features of Beijing" in English, accompanied by vertical Chinese characters and a black and red graphic illustration depicting a lively street scene of the Chinese capital, with traditional buildings, stylized signs and passers-by. The set is inserted in a transparent plastic flap pouch, typical of photographic souvenirs from the 1980s-1990s.

The displayed side shows a neat layout, typical of period tourist products, with graphics mixing fine lines and colored highlights. The print shows some signs of aging or handling (slight reddish halos), enhancing the retro charm of the object. The Chinese characters are printed in black, clearly legible on the left side, and the central illustration occupies most of the cover, suggesting an emblematic urban scene of Beijing.

The translucent plastic case reveals several compartments inside, probably intended to hold photographic slides, although their exact content is not visible in the photo. This type of presentation was frequently used as a travel souvenir, combining protection and enhancement of images. The whole is placed in a gold-edged box, which is not included by default unless otherwise stated.

The visual style, typography, and graphic choices strongly evoke the period from the 1980s to the early 1990s, when this type of souvenir was common among Western travelers in China. The vintage aspect is reinforced by the slight wear and patina visible on the printed cover.

The drawn scene, with its signs in Chinese characters and its commercial street atmosphere, perfectly illustrates the spirit of Beijing's historic districts, famous for its hutongs and lively markets. The whole constitutes an authentic testimony to China's tourist culture at the end of the 20th century.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Shows slight signs of wear and some marks of aging on the cover (see photo). The visible side shows good legibility of texts and drawing.

Did you know? Tourist slides were a popular way to share travels before the digital age. In China, in the 1980s, these sets were often sold in major historical sites, allowing people to bring home official images that were sometimes difficult to photograph themselves, at a time when personal color photography was still expensive.

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Keywords: Beijing slide, Beijing slides, China souvenir, vintage tourist case, 80s slide pouch, retro China photo, old Beijing slide, Beijing slide souvenir, old China travel slides, Asia tourist souvenir, slide illustration, vintage travel souvenir