In 1928, Stalin established a government-run foreign travel agency under the name Intourist (a contracted portmanteau of Иностранный [foreign] турист [tourist]). Though it had by that point already evacuated its international obligation to foment world revolution, Stalin’s regime was still looking to raise interest in the fledgling socialist state. All of the following brochures targeted potential tourists from the most advanced capitalist nations in the West — Germany, England, France, the US.

Stylistically, these pieces vary. Many are rather naïve, pastoral, even vaguely Orientalist, especially with respect to the more “exotic” Soviet Republics. Others are more avant-garde in appearance, with constructivist boldness and abstraction. Finally, a few of them roughly approach the new official style of Socialist Realism. Virtually all of them are optimistic, if not austere, however.

Intourist survived the USSR’s collapse in 1991, and continues to be one of Russia’s larger tourism companies. Below are some examples of their early advertising, which you can click to enlarge and browse through.