In more ways than one, “Airline Visual Identity, 1945-1975” (Callisto Publishing) is a hefty piece of work, landing at 430 pages, weighing 14 pounds and selling for $400. But the true size of its ambition is how it reveals the optimism of the Jet Age through nearly 400 posters and images from airlines like Pan Am, TWA, and United, evoking a time now seen as the golden age of flying.

The author, Matthias C. Hühne, is also the owner of Callisto, which published the book in April. He provides a meticulous overview of the vivid posters and design elements of the leading airlines of these years. The most appealing aspect of the book is how it recreates that sense of discovery and wonder when flying was not yet a commodity — or a hassle.

Mr. Hühne recently spoke on the phone from his office in Berlin about what these posters tells us about the industry then, and now. Following are edited excerpts from that conversation.

Q: How did the project come about?

A: About six or seven years ago, I came across an Air France poster from the 1950s in Paris. I had never seen this image before in graphic design publications. I was just so surprised at how beautiful it looked as a full-sized poster. My interest started to grow over time as I researched how these designs were created and who was behind them.