The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and National Geographic present a unique history of flight in "FLY NOW!: The Poster Collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum" (National Geographic Books; May 15; $25), which spans nearly two centuries of aerial adventure and air travel.

The book, by Joanne Gernstein London, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum, is the companion volume to the "FLY NOW!" traveling exhibition that will visit New York City; Siloam Springs, Ark.; Ontario, Calif.; and College Park, Md., this year. It is also a companion to "America by Air," a new, permanent exhibit opening at the museum's flagship building on the National Mall in Washington in late 2007. A major 15,000 sq. ft. exhibition—"America by Air" will trace the fascinating history of America's airline industry and its profound effect on the nation and the world. Featured throughout will be airline posters, many of which are included in the book.

The rare and dramatic images in "FLY NOW!"— most of them never before published—are culled from the National Air and Space Museum's collection of 1,400 aeronautical posters and tell a colorful story of flight, from the hot air balloon to the sleek 777 "Worldliner" jet. The earliest poster dates from 1827 and invited Parisians to watch as a band of visiting Native Americans ascend in a hot air balloon. In the pages that follow, flying machines of every description take readers to destinations around the world, from North and South America, to Europe, Africa, Australia and the Far East. Also showcased are barnstormers, gliders and boats; the earliest passenger flights; the first luxury liners; the brief but magnificent era of zeppelins, and more.

The book is also a showcase of stunning graphic design, with each poster revealing the popular art and commercial attitudes of its time. Spanning 180 years, the posters are discussed with informative entertaining text by London, whose discerning eye and deep knowledge create a book as definitive as it is visually appealing.

The foreword in the book is written by Herb Kelleher, co-founder and executive chairman of Southwest Airlines. Introductions are by London and F. Robert van der Linden, chairman of the Aeronautics Division, National Air and Space Museum.
 
In her introduction London writes, "In selecting posters for each chapter, I chose those with the most brilliant imagery and the most interesting histories of commercial aviation…These beautiful pieces reveal an important but untold story of aviation—namely, how aviation has been sold through advertising, from early balloons to modern jets."

The "Fly Now!" traveling exhibit will be on display at the following venues:

• Gateway National Recreation Area, Staten Island, N.Y. (May 15-20)
• Museum of History and Art Ontario, Ontario, Calif. (July 5-Aug. 16)
• John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Ark. (Sept. 1-Oct. 5)
• College Park Aviation Museum, College Park, Md. (Oct. 21-Jan. 19, 2008)