So what exactly is a vintage poster?

ADVERTISEMENT POSTER FOR FAP ANIS APERITIF, FRANCE, circa 1920

A few people have asked me what exactly defines a vintage poster, and while there is no set definition I wanted to clarify a few points. From my experience, when people refer to "vintage posters" they generally mean one of three types of art.

The Original Vintage Poster

This is what we at Rue Marcellin specialize in. We exclusively sell original posters, which are at least fifty years old. All of the the posters we carry have been printed between the 1890s and the 1960s. These types of posters are very valuable for a number of key reasons. First, they are very old. In general as they age they appreciate in value. Second, they are rare. Only a set quantity was printed to begin with and since most of them were meant to be posted on city walls as advertisements and consequently discarded few examples have survived. Third, they are a highly sought-after collectible meaning that they often snatched up by enthusiastic collectors never to be seen again. Fourth, they are unique form of artwork. Because of their rareness very few, if any, similar originals exist. Lastly, the way they were printed is unique. If the poster was created prior to the 1940s they have been most likely printed using the lithography method. This semi-manual method produced textures and colours than can no longer be replicated using the modern print methods we use.

ORIGINAL ADVERTISEMENT POSTER FOR SBB SWISS FEDERAL RAILWAYS, SWITZERLAND, 1942

ORIGINAL ADVERTISEMENT OSTER FOR SWISS ALLEGRO MOTORCYCLE, SWITZERLAND 1930

The Vintage Poster (Replica)

Many years ago, when I was just beginning to become fascinated with the vintage poster I bought an inexpensive French advertisement on eBay for a Longines pocket watch, because I loved its art deco style and bold colours. At the time I didn't realize that this was a reprint of a famous poster created in 1911 by the renowned Leonatto Cappiello.

Many use the term "vintage posters" to refer to modern day reprints of the above-described originals. Original vintage posters are digitally scanned and re-printed. These reprints are widely available and often cost as much as it costs to print them.

The Vintage-Style Poster

These posters are modern-day spins on the original poster. Modern day artists often use vintage styles, such as art nouveau, or art deco for their own creations. We've come across a number of interesting examples from talented artists. One example is Mads Berg, a Danish artist, who produces some amazingly cool Art Deco-style artwork.