8 reasons to buy original vintage posters and prints

 1. They are beautiful - Many vintage posters and prints are stunningly gorgeous works of art created by some of the most talented artists of the day. Looking at an authentic poster or print you will notice on first glance that the work is not like the over-photoshoped inkjet retro replicas currently flooding the internet. Original posters and prints are authentic lithographs where the mould was painstakingly created by the poster artist by hand. This is instantly evident in the artwork's unique colours and rich textures which are unrivalled by any modern copy.

Posted: Feb 01, 2014 | Tagged: collecting, decorating, vintage posters

Traveling through France with Original Vintage Posters

Traveling can be an extremely gratifying and introspective experience, where we get exposed to amazing sensations often packed in concentrated doses throughout our oh-so-too-short journey. The world is truly magical, with places, people, and experiences that can simply leave us breathless. There are so many things to see and discover, and it’s sometimes frustrating that we can’t explore more of the world.

We all seek that perfect souvenir to remember those great times during our travels. While the typical souvenirs and postcards do their job, they often loose their shine and are quickly forgotten as we get back to our daily routine.

Posted: Jan 28, 2014 | Tagged: France, souvenirs, travel, vintage posters

A Brief History of Collecting Vintage Posters

We are all familiar with displaying posters as an art form. For some of us it's a flashback to our youth. I still remember the architectural print of the Acropolis my dad bought for me when we lived in Athens. It hung on my wall for years, simply attached directly to the wall, until one Christmas my mom had it professionally framed. I still own it to this day. Of course it fared better than the Star Wars, Michael Jackson and Vancouver Canucks hockey posters long forgotten as we parted ways at some garage sale before a move.

It wasn't until many years later that the poster and I reestablished a relationship, this time it was at a vintage poster gallery in France where I remember being awestruck by what I saw on the walls. The overall beauty, range in styles, colours, and sizes of these posters were incredible. Upon learning that these beautiful, original pieces were made as early as the 1860s, and gaining an understanding of what it took to produce lithographic prints in those days, my appreciation grew further. I couldn’t get over how much cool history was hanging right there for me to ogle at!

The poster market originated in the 1870s thanks to a Parisian artist named Jules Chéret, now commonly referred to as the Father of the Poster. He invented a printing technique called colour lithography that allowed for the rapid and inexpensive production of images with intense colour and rich texture. He produced many beautiful lithos. In the 1890s, the advertising poster market grew speedily, and posters filled the streets of Paris.    

Posted: Dec 14, 2013 | Tagged: collecting, history, vintage posters