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!
Department Auctions
Top Lots

The Best Awards

Plinio Codognato

Cicli FIAT
Affisso litografico, 1910 ca. Impresso da Chappuis, Bologna. Cm 144 x [..]
€ 22.600,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) CORRIERE DELLA SERA - MILANO

Affisso originale, 1898. Litografia, F.lli Ricordi, Milano. Cm 216x106. Stato di conservazione: A-. Esemplare di notevole freschezza: invisibili tracc [..]
€ 21.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) IRIS, MUSICA DI P.MASCAGNI...

Affisso originale, 1898. Litografia, Off. Graf. Ricordi, Milano. Cm 27 [..]
€ 19.475,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Carlo Vittorio Testi

Mostra della Rivoluzione Fascista - Roma
Affisso litografico, 1933. Impresso da Stab. A Parziale - Roma. Cm 193 [..]
€ 17.600,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato (1878-1940) FIAT 520… OPTIMA!

Affisso originale, 1928. Litografia impressa da Off. Graf. Ricordi, Milano. Cm 278x200. QUALITÁ: A-. Esemplare molto fresco e con colori brillanti; li [..]
€ 15.100,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Franz Lenhart (1898-1992) MODIANO, CARTINE E TUBETTI PER SIGARETTE

Affisso originale, 1936. Litografia, Grafiche Modiano, Trieste. Cm 149 [..]
€ 15.100,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1868-1942) CALZATURIFICIO DI VARESE

Affisso originale, 1914. Litografia, Arti graf. Ricordi, Milano. Cm 14 [..]
€ 15.100,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich (1878-1962) FIAT BALILLA, L’ELEGANZA DELLA SIGNORA

Affisso originale, 1934 ca. Litografia impressa da Star-IGAP, Milano. [..]
€ 12.600,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich (1878-1962) CALDERONI GIOIELLI

Bozzetto esecutivo per manifesto, anni Dieci. Tempera su cartone. Cm 5 [..]
€ 11.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Luigi Bompard

Rimini Grand Hotel
Affisso litografico, 1900 ca. Impresso da Stab E.Chappius - Bologna. C [..]
€ 9.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) IL RESTO DEL CARLINO... BOLOGNA

Affisso originale, 1898. Litografia, F.lli Ricordi, Milano. Cm 151x100 [..]
€ 8.850,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) BITTER CAMPARI, MILANO

Affisso originale, 1899. Litografia, Lit. Galileo, Milano. Cm 206x102. [..]
€ 8.225,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Leonardo Bistolfi

Prima Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte Decorativa Moderna ( Liberty )
Affisso cromo - litografico, 1902. Impresso da Lit. Doyen / Simondetti [..]
€ 8.225,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Nizzoli ( 1887-1969) CORDIAL CAMPARI

Affisso pubblicitario originale, 1927. Litografia impressa da: Star-IG [..]
€ 7.600,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Osvaldo Ballerio (1870-1942) BISCOTTI AMARETTI DELSER / CARLO DELSER, [..]

Affisso originale, 1905 ca. Litografia, Stab. Coen, Milano. Cm 157x95. [..]
€ 7.600,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Giuseppe Riccobaldi

Roma, Salone Internazionale dell’ Automobile in Italia
Affisso litografico, 1929. Impresso da Barabino & Graeve, Genova. Cm 1 [..]
€ 6.975,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Emka BAICOLI, I FAMOSI BISCOTTI VENEZIANI... COLUSSI

Affisso originale, 1949. Litografia, arti grafiche F.lli Bonetti, Mila [..]
€ 6.600,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Marcello Dudovich

Feste di Bologna - Città di Bologna 1900
Affisso litografico, 1900. Impresso da Prem. Stab. Lit.Dott. E. Chappu [..]
€ 6.860,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato ( 1878- 1940) FIAT 508

Affisso originale, 1932 ca. Litografia impressa da Gros-Monti, Torino. [..]
€ 6.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) BITTER CAMPARI

Affisso originale, 1921. Litografia, Les nouvelles affiches Cappiello. [..]
€ 6.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Fortunato Depero (1892-1960) DEPERO: 94° MOSTRA ROVERETO

Esecutivo originale per manifesto, 1952. Acquerello e tempera su carto [..]
€ 6.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Artisti vari

Gli Avvisi delle Officine G. Ricordi - G. Milano.
Portfolio con cover rigida completo di 70 opere litografiche. 1914 ca. [..]
€ 6.350,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) IL RESTO DEL CARLINO& BOLOGNA

Affisso originale, 1898. Litografia, F.lli Ricordi, Milano. Cm 146x91. [..]
€ 6.100,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein

Iris - Opera Lirica P. Mascagni
Affisso litografico, 1898. Impresso da Off. Graf. Ricordi, Milano. Cm [..]
€ 6.080,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Leonetto Cappiello ( 1875-1942 ) BITTER CAMPARI

Litografia a colori su carta, 1921. Cm 100x70. Qualità A.
€ 5.725,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Giuseppe Riccobaldi FIAT 1500

Affisso litografico in prima edizione italiana, 1935. Impresso da Ediz [..]
€ 5.725,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Adolf Hohenstein (1856-1928) MONTE-CARLO, TIR AUX PIGEONS

Affisso originale, 1900 ca. Litografia, G.Ricordi, Milano. Cm 123x89. [..]
€ 5.725,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Plinio Codognato ( 1878- 1940) FIAT 509

Affisso originale, 1925. Litografia, Imp. Ricordi, Milano. Cm 137x99. [..]
€ 5.725,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

David Klein

New York Fly TWA
Affisso offset. Litho in USA . Edizione con aereo variato. Una delle p [..]
€ 5.860,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

Artisti Vari

Gli Avvisi delle Officine G. Ricordi - Milano
Portfolio con cover rigida completo di 70 opere litografiche. 1914 ca. [..]
€ 5.725,00
Sold
Amount including auction fees

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