POP and Vintage posters

The Twentieth century is, without any doubt, the century of photography as a durable image; often, vintage posters are also a symbol of the past century and an exceptional testimony of the dreams and desires of the people who lived in the nascent modern society of the early ‘900.

The poster, generally a medium and large-sized illustration, was created in the 16th century for advertising, information and propaganda purposes and began circulating at the end of the Nineteenth century. It was in this period of time that the poster started to be used for advertising purposes in public spaces, as an immediate and easy way to communicate ideas, concepts and opinions. For these reasons we can say that the poster is a truly emblematic communication medium for the Twentieth century, and a true artistic expression that leads artists to experiment with new illustration techniques such as collage, new stylistic features and new printing characters.
Thanks to the advertising poster, not only a new language of art spreads, but also a new expressive taste, synced with the then contemporary demands, giving birth to the culture of marketing. Vintage posters of the Twentieth Century and, in particular, those of the post-war period are characterised by an avant-garde visual language, emphasised to the maximum and that, at times, are almost caricatured: bright colours that serve to attract the attention of the public, female bodies represented in a dynamic way to tease curiosity, desire and stimulate the imagination.

The advantages of the manifesto as a means of mass communication are many, and that is why it will be increasingly used, especially during the Twentieth century. It’s scopes were simple: communicate concepts and ideas in a strategic and simple way, without requiring an effort or specific action from the recipient of the message, which was the case for other media. Cambi Casa d’Aste, usually in the Milan branch, presents rare and hard-to-find vintage posters organised in catalogues and two sales a year with collections of posters that are among the most emblematic and significant of twentieth-century publishing.

The Department that deals with vintage posters organises monographic sales of fine children's illustrated books, liberty and art deco posters, erotic posters, magazines and photo envelopes, advertising posters, art and film posters and playbills. The lots that are presented in the Twentieth Century poster auctions are always characterised by great visual impact and originality, always coming from private assignments. Among the best sales of the Department of Collectible Vintage Posters we mention only a few such as the original 1898 affix signed Adolf Hohenstein, Corriere della Sera sold for € 21.350, the 1936 poster signed Franz Lenhart for Modiano, Papers and cigarette tubes, sold in 2020 for € 15. 100 and the original 1934 affix by Marcello Dudovich, Fiat Balilla, the elegance of the lady, sold for € 12.600. Do you want to buy antique posters at auction?

Our experts are always at the disposal of collectors and enthusiasts of original 20th century cards to offer personalised advice for investments and targeted purchases with which to enrich your collection of 20th century posters.
If you are in possession of vintage posters and would like to know their value to put them up for sale, contact Cambi Auction House experts for free and confidential evaluations. The valuation of vintage and modern posters aims to express a first estimate and can be requested online directly from our site, an excellent solution to give value to posters in your possession.
Selling with Cambi is easy, fast and profitable!
Top Lots

The Best Awards

Plinio Codognato

Cicli FIAT
€ 22.600,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) CORRIERE DELLA SERA - MILANO
€ 21.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) IRIS, MUSICA DI P.MASCAGNI...
€ 19.475,00
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato (1878-1940) FIAT 520… OPTIMA!
€ 15.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Franz Lenhart (1898-1992) MODIANO, CARTINE E TUBETTI PER SIGARETTE
€ 15.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1868-1942) CALZATURIFICIO DI VARESE
€ 15.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich (1878-1962) FIAT BALILLA, L’ELEGANZA DELLA SIGNORA
€ 12.600,00
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich (1878-1962) CALDERONI GIOIELLI
€ 11.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) IL RESTO DEL CARLINO... BOLOGNA
€ 8.850,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) BITTER CAMPARI, MILANO
€ 8.225,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonardo Bistolfi

Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Decorativa Moderna ( Liberty )
€ 8.225,00
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Nizzoli ( 1887-1969) CORDIAL CAMPARI
€ 7.600,00
Amount including auction fees

Osvaldo Ballerio (1870-1942) BISCOTTI AMARETTI DELSER / CARLO DELSER, [..]
€ 7.600,00
Amount including auction fees

Giuseppe Riccobaldi

Roma, Salone Internazionale dell’ Automobile in Italia
€ 6.975,00
Amount including auction fees

Emka BAICOLI, I FAMOSI BISCOTTI VENEZIANI... COLUSSI
€ 6.600,00
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich

Feste di Bologna - Città di Bologna 1900
€ 6.860,00
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato ( 1878- 1940) FIAT 508
€ 6.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) BITTER CAMPARI
€ 6.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Fortunato Depero (1892-1960) DEPERO: 94° MOSTRA ROVERETO
€ 6.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Artisti vari

Gli Avvisi delle Officine G. Ricordi - G. Milano.
€ 6.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) IL RESTO DEL CARLINO& BOLOGNA
€ 6.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein

Iris - Opera Lirica P. Mascagni
€ 6.080,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) BITTER CAMPARI
€ 5.725,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello (1875-1942) BITTER CAMPARI
€ 5.725,00
Amount including auction fees

Giuseppe Riccobaldi FIAT 1500
€ 5.725,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) MONTE-CARLO, TIR AUX PIGEONS
€ 5.725,00
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato ( 1878- 1940) FIAT 509
€ 5.725,00
Amount including auction fees

David Klein

New York Fly TWA
€ 5.860,00
Amount including auction fees

Artisti vari

Les Maitres de l'Affiche - Deuxieme Volume
€ 5.600,00
Amount including auction fees

Armando Testa (1917-1992) CAFFE’ PAULISTA LAVAZZA
€ 5.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Anonimo SANGEMINI, ACQUA MINERALE NATURALE DIGESTIVA ANTI URICA...
€ 5.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato ( 1878- 1940) FIAT 514
€ 5.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) COGNAC GAUTIER FRERES
€ 5.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) “CAMPARI”
€ 5.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) F.CHAMPENOIS IMPRIMEURS – EDITEURS … PARIS
€ 5.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Gian Emilio Malerba (1880-1926) E. & A. MELE NAPOLI. APERTURA DI STAGI [..]
€ 5.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) CAMPARI
€ 5.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1868-1942) E. & A. MELE NAPOLI. NOVITA’ PER L’ES [..]
€ 4.850,00
Amount including auction fees

IL CANTASTORIE DI CAMPARI
€ 4.850,00
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) ONORANZE A VOLTA NEL CENTENARIO DELLA PIL [..]
€ 4.850,00
Amount including auction fees

Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1868-1942) ESPOSIZIONE INTERNAZIONALE DELLE INDU [..]
€ 4.850,00
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) BITTER CAMPARI
€ 4.475,00
Amount including auction fees

Alphonse Mucha

Les Fleures
€ 4.475,00
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich (1878-1962) BORSALINO ANTICA CASA
€ 4.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Duilio Cambellotti

Teatro Greco di Siracura 1939 - ENIT
€ 4.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Aleandro Villa

Mele - Abiti per uomo
€ 4.350,00
Amount including auction fees

Nicolaj Diulgheroff (1901-1982) CORA AMARO
€ 4.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Nicola Diulgheroff (1901-1982) CORA AMARO
€ 4.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Vincenzo Migliaro (1858-1938) IL MATTINO, ANNO VIII
€ 4.100,00
Amount including auction fees

Duilio Cambellotti

Rappresentazioni Classiche - Teatro Greco di Siracusa 1933- ENIT.
€ 4.100,00
Amount including auction fees
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 11:58:43 +0000
La Clementina by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo
On March 28, 2024, Cambi Auction House's appointment dedicated to 19th- and 20th-century Paintings returns with numerous new works of art. Among the most important works [..]
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 15:18:12 +0000
Alessandro Arseni: a life devoted to Philately
Alessandro Arseni has devoted his entire life to philatelic study and research, especially on the world of nineteenth-century mail and the Risorgimento. A dedication and [..]
Mon, 04 Mar 2024 10:31:53 +0000
Vincenzo Coronelli: Friar, cosmographer and argonaut of La Serenissima Republic of Venice
The event dedicated to "Antique and Rare Books, Antique Prints, Views and Maps" is approaching. On Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the prestigious venue of Castello Mackenzie [..]
Contacts
Mirko Morini

Mirko Morini

Specialist
Silvia Petrinetto

Silvia Petrinetto

Assistant