New York—Boasting more than 400 lots, Swann Galleries’ February 24 auction of Vintage Posters will offer graphic gems from across the centuries and around the globe.

            From the earliest examples of Art Nouveau, the works of Alphonse Mucha are well-represented by decorative panels, portfolios, and posters, including previously unseen rarities. On offer is a selection of designs featuring Sarah Bernhardt notably, Mme. Sarah Bernhardt - World’s Tour 1914-15-16, circa 1914 ($4,000-6,000); as well as a poster Bernhardt’s Farewell American Tour in 1915 to 1916 by an unknown designer ($3,000-4,000). Early American Tiffany-Style highlights include Edward Penfield’s The Northampton Cycle Co., circa 1900 ($8,000-12,000), and Will Bradley’s Victor Bicycles, 1895 ($8,000-12,000), among a selection of Bradley covers, posters and ephemera. Drawing inspiration from the Art Nouveau movement is exceptionally rare and desirable psychedelic work, including Herb Greene & James H. Gardner’s Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead,1967 ($8,000-12,000). Other iconic artists include Theophilé-Alexandre Steinlen and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

            Art Deco posters feature, with a notable work by Zig, Josephine Baker / Casino de Paris, 1930 ($4,000-6,000), and sought-after posters by Luciano Achille Mauzan, Charles Gesmar, Ludwig Hohlwein, Charles Loupot, Francis Bernard, Paul Colin, and Roger Broders.

            Following the house’s highest-grossing travel posters sale last fall, the sale will feature a plethora of enticing travel advertisements, including a highly anticipated selection of winter and ski imagery, including a rare 1933 Swissair poster by Carl Moos ($5,000-7,500), a majestic image of a Fokker F-VII soaring through a geometrically patterned blue sky over the clouds and colorful Alpine peaks. Ski Posters, a staple of the February poster offering at Swann, include Mürren / Schweiz, 1931, by Andre Lecomte, ($4,000-6,000); Jack Galliano’s VIII Olympic Winter Games Squaw Valley, 1960 ($1,200-1,800); Alois Carigiet’s Switzerland Invites you for Winter Sports, 1948 ($1,000-1,500); and Martin Peikert’s Champéry, 1955 ($7,000-10,000). Travel advertisements from Ottomar Anton, Leslie Ragan, Bern Hill, Emil Cardinaux, Otto Baumberger, Stan Galli, and David Klein also feature.

            A large selection of excellent and seldom-seen car posters includes race advertisements, Grand Prix, forgotten brands of automobiles, and consumer favorites such as Fiat, Citroën and others. Highlights include Johannes Handschin’s Grosser Preis Montreux, 1934 ($10,000-15,000); Richard Guyatt’s These Men Use Shell / You Can Be Sure of Shell, 1939 ($1,000-1,500); Pierre Louys’ Citroën, 1925 ($2,000-3,000); and Jack le Breton’s Fiat / The Car of International Reputation, 1927 ($1,500-2,000). Also available is a run of posters from the 1950s for Mercedes Benz and the 1970s by Atelier Erich Strenger for various racing series. 

            The sale is rounded out by a selection of food and beverage, entertainment posters, as well as artist exhibition images.

Exhibition hours are 12 p.m to 5 p.m on February 18, and from February 21 through February 23. Live online bidding platforms will be the Swann Galleries App, Invaluable, and Live Auctioneers. The complete catalogue and bidding information is available at www.swanngalleries.com and on the Swann Galleries App.