On November 7, 2023, Cambi Auction House presents an auction dedicated exclusively to vintage posters, with a selection of pieces of particular beauty and important historical interest.

Billboards were born in the late 1800s, and from the very beginning they grafted themselves powerfully, with their striking force and roadside syllabus format into urban realities. The "power" of billboards is extraordinary: they possess the gift of synthesis, poetic vein and strength in the play of colors, immediately capturing everyone's attention. 

In particular, the poster fathers Lutrec and Cheret were the two main protagonists in France, with their refined figures conquering the walls of Paris, from the brands of fine Champagne to the iconic Moulin Rouge venue. Indeed, billboards were born to announce Operas and theatrical performances. In Italy, Officine Grafiche Ricordi were the first to introduce the production of posters, and they called upon, only the best artists of the time-Dudovich, Hohenstein, Metlicovitz, and Villa are just a few of the prominent names.

Their majesty was such that the collector's market for them arose in conjunction with their creation, in fact today's finding of billboards occurs thanks to the preservation foresight of such figures who, chased in some cases, "the stickers" to get the posters before the stage of wall drafting in the streets.

Notable among the lots in the auction is a particularly beautiful early 20th-century poster, Cicli Fiat, by renowned painter, poster artist, and graphic designer Plinio Codognato.

Another significant work, a poster of important historical significance from the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art. The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art was a major international exhibition event of the Art Nouveau style, held in Turin in 1902. It was the first on this theme, and in fact is officially called the "First International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art." The artist, Leonardo Bistolfi, a famous sculptor, set the emblematic transition from Symbolism to Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau characteristics of the work, are the fluid, curvilinear stroke, the elegance of the forms, the musical progression, the floral quotations, the choice of cool colors, and the lightness of the four barefoot maidens dressed in white, united by a white ribbon whose scrolls form the letters of the Latin word "ars" art.

Among the most notable lots at auction is the poster for the International Automobile Show in Italy, Rome, by renowned artist Riccobaldi. The automobile is often the protagonist of posters of historical significance, in this case the she-wolf, symbol of Rome, is also highlighted.

Also prominent is a poster of the Triennial Exhibition of Fine Arts of the Royal Academy of Brera, Milan. It represents an important exhibition held in Milan between September 8 and October 9, 1900 in the historic Brera Art Gallery.