A rare poster recalling some of the halcyon days of the railways goes on sale this weekend.

Only two British Rail (BR) posters were ever made to promote Ilkley and an original of one of them is on sale for £750 at this weekend’s Ilkley Book Fair.

The ‘Ilkley Gateway to the Dales’ poster is being exhibitied by Ilkley bookseller Christian White who says it is a classic example of the way companies tried to attract people onto their trains to travel up and down the country.

“There were only ever two BR poster designs showing Ilkley,” he said.

“One looking up across the town to the moor, and this one showing the iconic view of Ilkley and Wharfedale beyond, seen through the gap between the Cow and Calf rocks.

“You can spot walkers and sunbathers enjoying the beauty spot, a couple of figures on top of the rocks and then Ilkley in the valley below, with the waters of the Lido distantly twinkling.

“It must have brought tourists to the town in droves.”

Mr White said the poster was released in 1960, but believes as most of the posters were displayed on station platforms, they were then simply thrown away, making the originals very rare.

More than 50 booksellers are lined up to take part in the Provincal Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA) Ilkley Bookfair which starts on Friday at noon at the King’s Hall and Winter Gardens in Ilkley.

The fair runs until 6pm on Friday and then from 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

Books on sale are described as general antiquarian and secondhand books often with maps and prints.

Admission to the fair is free, but for more details call 01943 436224.