Posters

The primary purpose of such Posters was advertorial, but the often breath-taking designs have made them collectable in their own right, with committed collectors competing at auction with a constantly evolving strata of private buyers inspired by a vintage Poster's subject, the design or, in an ideal world, both.

La Belle Époque & Art Nouveau vintage Posters of the late 19th century

Whilst Posters for promotional and advertorial purposes date back much earlier, it was the introduction of lithography and, shortly after, chromolithography in the 19th century that made it possible to produce illustrated, visually compelling Posters on a mass scale. This period saw an explosion of artistic Posters being produced, promoting local businesses, fashion, alcohol and more, often by important artists of the day. Aubrey Beardsley was so amazed by the Posters he saw on a visit to Paris that he immediately set about using Poster art to promote ventures back in London.

The 1890s in particular, an era known as the Belle Époque by vintage Posters collectors, witnessed some of the best Poster art of all time. This was showcased by the first selling exhibition in Britain, organised by the firm Ella & Malherbe and featuring British and French Posters by Bonnard, the Beggarstaffs, Chéret, Toulouse-Lautrec and others. Other famous Poster artists from this period include Alphonse Mucha (famous for his work with Sarah Bernhardt) and Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (famously the creator of the 'Tournée du Chat Noir' poster).

Art Deco and other vintage Posters of the 20th century

The 20th century saw a stylistic shift away from the more organic, sinuous forms of the fin-de-siècle. The Art Deco period in particular saw a new form of simplified, bold design emerge. This was most evident perhaps in the Posters promoting travel and transport, such as the wonderful tourism Posters by Roger Broders and the innovative designs of Alphonse Mouron Cassandre. Sport also benefited greatly from the art of the Poster, with many excellent designs accompanying the Olympic Games for example.

We regularly include Film Posters in our vintage Posters auctions, though they can sometimes also be found in our Performing Arts auctions. These can be highly collectable, resonating with cinephiles and lovers of the simply iconic. As with all vintage Posters, condition plays a crucial role in the value of these Posters, and there can be a range of issues and states that need expert advise to correctly identify.