Discover the timeless artistry of vintage advertising posters at Poster France. Our collection from France and Italy showcases iconic brands and celebrated poster artists, blending art and commerce seamlessly. These original posters offer a glimpse into the advertising world’s golden age, featuring the work of renowned creatives who defined poster art. Explore a treasure trove of vintage designs that continue to captivate collectors and art lovers alike. Own a piece of history with Poster France’s exquisite selection of original vintage advertising posters!
Original French Art Nouveau advertising poster for Aux Fabriques de Geneve, a jeweler and watch merchant based in La Rochelle. The design features a young woman presented in refined detail above a display of watches, jewelry, and decorative objects. A large ring or cameo-like medallion frames the scene, reinforcing the store’s emphasis on engagement and bridal gifts. The text indicates that the firm manufactured its own goods and offered a catalog available to clients upon request.
Although the name refers to Geneva, the shop itself operated in La Rochelle. The reference to Geneva likely served to evoke the reputation of Swiss craftsmanship in watchmaking and fine jewelry, suggesting products of comparable quality.
The artist Hem was active in France during the early twentieth century and produced a small number of advertising posters during the height of the Belle Époque poster movement. His work reflects the decorative elegance typical of the Art Nouveau period.
Artist: Hem
Title: Aux Fabriques de Geneve
Size: 47.5 x 63 inches
On / Off Linen: On linen
Print Technique: Stone lithograph
Year: 1903
Condition & Comments: Excellent condition on linen. Original vintage poster, not a reproduction.
Original French advertising poster for Chantier Houiller designed by Jean D’Ylen and printed in Paris by Vercasson in 1924. The composition features a brightly dressed jester riding a coal cart, rendered in vivid colors against a dark background. Dressed in yellow with arms spread wide, the figure humorously recalls the canary traditionally used in coal mines to warn miners of dangerous gases. The playful imagery and strong contrast of colors are characteristic of the lively advertising style of the period.
Jean Paul Beguin (1886–1938), known professionally as Jean D’Ylen, was one of the leading French advertising artists of the early twentieth century. His posters are known for their striking use of primary colors, bold figures, and theatrical compositions. The influence of Leonetto Cappiello is evident in the dramatic dark backgrounds and animated figures that appear to float within the design. D’Ylen began his career as a jewelry designer before becoming an advertising illustrator for the Paris publishing house Vercasson. After Cappiello left the firm in 1916, D’Ylen became one of its principal poster artists, producing many memorable designs of the 1920s.
Artist: D’Ylen, Jean
Title: Chantier Houiller
Printer: Vercasson, Paris
Size: 43 x 65 inches
On / Off Linen: On linen
Print Technique: Lithograph
Year: 1924
Condition & Comments: Excellent condition on linen.
Original French advertising poster for Plasson bicycles designed by Manuel Robbe. The composition shows a confident female cyclist mounting her bicycle while elegantly dressed women remain in the background. The image captures the growing enthusiasm for cycling in the late nineteenth century, a period when the bicycle became a symbol of modern life and personal freedom. Robbe’s design is notable for its striking simplicity and dramatic use of color, particularly the vivid red sky that dominates the scene.
Manuel Robbe (1872–1936) was a French painter and printmaker trained at the Académie Julian in Paris. He became known primarily for his color prints and aquatints, though he also produced a small number of advertising posters during the poster boom of the 1890s. His work is associated with the Art Nouveau period and is appreciated for its refined composition and controlled color palette. The posters he created for the Plasson bicycle company are among his most recognizable advertising works.
Artist: Robbe, Manuel
Title: Cycles Plasson
Size: 32 x 46.5 inches / 81 x 118 cm
On / Off Linen: On linen
Print Technique: Stone Lithograph
Year: c.1897
Condition & Comments: Excellent condition on linen.
Colorful French advertising poster promoting Ghislaine viscose fabric described as “le tissu de demi-saison” (the fabric for mid-season wear). The design shows a stylish mother measuring a young girl for a dress, both wearing bright red garments, with a playful beach ball at their feet. The composition uses bold color blocks and lively mid-century illustration typical of French commercial graphics of the 1950s. Printed for Boussac fabrics, a major French textile manufacturer. The artist signed the work in the plate, though the signature is not clearly identifiable. Printed in Paris by Gaillard Imprimerie.
Artist: Unknown (signed in plate, illegible)
Printer: Gaillard Imprimerie, Paris
Size: 31.5 x 45.5 inches
On / Off Linen: On linen
Print Technique: Offset lithograph
Year: 1954
Condition & Comments: Excellent condition. Very rare; the only example we have encountered.
Lithographic plate reproducing the poster design Superator by Leopoldo Metlicovitz, issued as part of the well-known Ricordi Portfolio. This series presented a selection of important poster designs printed by the Ricordi publishing house during the height of the Italian poster movement between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The portfolio gathered together small-format reproductions of these works and was distributed internationally in the early twentieth century.
Casa Ricordi of Milan, originally a music publisher closely associated with the Italian opera world, developed a major lithographic printing workshop in the late nineteenth century. Through its printing department the firm produced posters for music, theatre, and commercial clients and became a central force in the development of the Italian poster. The artists working with Ricordi helped define the Italian version of Art Nouveau, often referred to as Stile Liberty.
Leopoldo Metlicovitz (1868–1944) was one of the principal designers associated with Ricordi. His posters and illustrations are recognized for their elegant compositions and refined color work, and he contributed numerous designs for theatre, publishing, and advertising.
Artist: Metlicovitz, Leopoldo
Title: Superator (Ricordi Portfolio plate)
Printer / Publisher: Ricordi, Milan
Size: 10 x 14 inches / 25 x 36 cm
On / Off Linen: Unlined
Print Technique: Lithograph
Year: c.1910
Condition & Comments: Excellent condition. Plate from the Ricordi portfolio series presenting reduced lithographic versions of notable Italian posters from the Ricordi workshop.
Small Italian point of purchase advertising display promoting Radino olive oil. The design by Gino Boccasile shows a smiling woman pouring olive oil over a bowl of salad, rendered in the bright colors and lively graphic style typical of Italian commercial illustration of the period. Boccasile (1901–1952) was a well known Italian illustrator and poster artist who produced advertising imagery, posters, and magazine illustrations for a wide range of Italian companies.
Printed in Milan on heavy card stock, this display piece was intended to hang in shops or window displays where the product was sold. A small string at the top allowed the carton to be suspended as a point of purchase advertisement. Radino olive oil continues to be produced today and the image created by Boccasile remains associated with the brand.
Artist: Boccasile, Gino
Printer: Printed in Milan
Size: 14 x 10 inches
On / Off Linen: Unlined
Print Technique: Lithograph on heavy card stock
Year: 1940s
Condition & Comments: Very good condition. Small original point of purchase advertising display.
