It Happened Here: Posters from the San Francisco Bay Area

Stan Galli, San Francisco United Airlines Cable Car, c. 1955

The West has always beckoned to those in search of change.  The adventurous came to California to put a stake in land, to chase after gold, and later, in search of personal transformation in the summer of love.

How did the word get out about the promise of the West?  Posters provide an answer.

This summer Vintage European Posters will showcase a collection of posters from the San Francisco Bay Area in a show titled “It Happened Here.” The show features posters about the Vietnam War protests, women’s rights, black power, as well as selected works by Berkeley Poster artist David Lance Goines.

David Lance Goines, Applause Is Not Enough, 1994

Don’t miss out on this collection of local history!

The show runs from May 18 – July 3^rd

Come visit us for the show’s opening weekend
Saturday, May 18 from 10-6
Sunday, May 19 from  11-5

And see us every week on Tuesdays & Wednesdays from  11-5 and by appointment.

Call us at 510 843 2201 to schedule an appointment.

This post was written by  Elizabeth Norris, owner of Vintage European Posters, and edited by Emily Jackson, Media Director.

April Pop-Up Weekend!

Happy Spring!

Morvan, Jeunesse au Plein Air Tennis, 1951

We’ll be rolling up the door this weekend, April 13 & 14 to debut some exceptional new poster finds. Please join us for our Berkeley showroom’s ONLY open weekend in April, for what promises to be a truly spectacular poster experience.

Elizabeth has been on the hunt of late and has turned up over 50 new gems: Italian Art Nouveau, modern travel, tennis, golf, flamenco, bicycles – posters in all shapes and sizes and styles! Honestly, we’ve been up to our ears in cataloguing and the tubes keep rolling in! And now comes the best part: sharing them with you.

Bonnet, Visitez Rouen, c. 1910

After this we take the collection south to the very cool LA Modernism Show, so do come see us and the new posters now while you can. They will not be live on the website until May, when we return.

Don’t forget to measure your walls! We look forward to helping you find just the right original poster for your space.

See you then!

Details:
Location: Vintage European Posters Showroom “Outpost”
2201 Fourth Street, Berkeley CA 94710
(510)843-2201
Saturday April 13 from 10-6pm
Sunday April 14th from 11-5pm

Gruau, Blizzand Red Coat, c. 1965

This post was written by Charly Leys and edited by Emily Jackson   www.vepca.com

Vintage European Posters was established in 1997. We are the West Coast’s Largest Dealer in Original Vintage Posters from France and the United States. See us online anytime at www.vepca.com and at our Berkeley Showroom OUTPOST 2201 Fourth Street, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

A Guide to Being an Informed Poster Buyer

At Vintage European Posters, we like to say that we don’t sell you posters, we find you the posters you love. We also know that it can be very overwhelming to walk into a poster shop where you are offered  hundreds of original posters to choose from, so here are some helpful tips to help you become an informed poster buyer.

1. Purchase posters that you love. Many factors determine the value of a vintage poster, including its rarity, condition, designer, and sometimes subject matter, but the most important feature of a poster is that it speaks to you.

2. Know your source. Members that display the IVPDA logo have passed a series of stringent membership requirements. Association members have many years of professional experiences and are respected within the arts community for their knowledge and integrity.

3. Original posters were advertising items, not meant to last, and were printed on inexpensive paper. Therefore, a poster printed on heavy stock or good quality paper may be suspect.

4. Know your wall space. Vintage Posters come in all shapes and sizes, so it is always a good idea to know your size requirements and restrictions ahead of time. Your IVPDA member-dealer will help you identity and obtain posters that suit the space you have to display them. *

5. Have fun! This is a time for you to engage with the posters that intrigue you and learn about their history. At Vintage European Posters we do our best to foster an engaging and welcoming environment to help you feel comfortable in choosing the right poster for your space and lifestyle.

Jules Alexandre-Grun, Cocorico! 1913

Linen Backing and Mounting

Using a reversible conservation method, most posters today are professionally linen backed; mounted on acid free paper and a light cotton canvas or mounted on acid free Japanese rice paper. The IVPDA membership includes professionals who undertake this work as well as restoration, if necessary

The IVPDA

The International Vintage Poster Dealers Association (IVPDA) is a non-profit professional organization of dealers, which provides strict guidelines to ensure the authenticity of the posters for sale. Dealers displaying the IVPDA logo are found in many cities around the world. Members are committed to the highest standards of professional ethics in the collectibles industry and have been carefully screened for their knowledge of printing techniques, posters, and business ethics.

Villemot, Perrier C’est Fou, 1976

*Numbers 1-4 reprinted form the IVPDA brochure. (Now out of print) 

This post was written by Emily Jackson, UC Berkeley Art History Student and Gallery Assistant, and edited by Elizabeth Norris, Owner Vintage European Posters   www.vepca.com

Vintage European Posters was established in 1997. We are the West Coast’s Largest Dealer in Original Vintage Posters from France and the United States. See us online anytime at www.vepca.com and at our Berkeley Showroom OUTPOST 2201 Fourth Street, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Fernet Branca is so Chouette!

The mystical Jagermeister logo

In the 1980s, Americans discovered Jagermeister.  Now Jager has been around for more than a century, but a lean, mean marketing machine of a man, Chuck Giometti, decided to put Jager in the hands of every college kid in the US, and with the use of Jager girls and chilling machines, he did it.

Where did we drink Jager? In New Orleans on the street, in New York at KGB, in San Francisco at Dr. Bombay’s, in  Oakland at the Omni, and at home, never far from the freezer.  You must drink it chilled.  Imagine my surprise when I visited Germany in 1993, very excited at the prospect of drinking Jager in the motherland and was met with sideways glances by my German friends.

In Germany, Jagermeister is considered the drink of old men,  and is used as a digestif.  So when I asked for Jagermeister, it was assumed that, well, I needed digestive aid.  I found this postcard when I returned from Europe and it really cheered me up.

“When my dealer is away, I drink Jagermeister”

About 10 years ago, folks began to approach us at shows and say “Fernet Branca?” At first I didn’t know what they were talking about.  We learn a lot from our clients, and thankfully, one explained to us that it was an Italian digestif.  Over time we learned that when people asked for Fernet Branca, it was safe to assume they were bartenders by trade – today’s mixologists.  Asking for Fernet Branca at a bar is code for “I am also a bartender.”

Fernet Branca logo from the label

Eventually, we met the man responsible for putting Jagermeister and later Fernet on the map. Mr. Giometti contacted us and asked us to help him assemble a collection of original Fernet Posters. And so we did.  Today, he promotes Absente from Micel Roux, Rhum Barbancourt, and Prichards Whiskey to name a few.

Original Fernet Branca Menthe Poster

Anyway,  here is our one and only Fernet Branca poster.  I LOVE this piece. It was printed in the 1960s and suggests how cool or “chouette” the liqueur was then.  The poster is an original, and we consider it to be in Fine (or A-) condition.  The image is a summer image, evoking memories of a long cool drink under an umbrella.  Oh happy place, I’m ready for summer already!

St. Christopher Antique Show

Dear Friends in the South Bay,

Please join us this weekend at the 43rd Annual St. Christopher Ladies Guild Antique Show February 1 -3. This is our fourth year at the show and we are honored to be a part of this delightful community event.

Cheret, Jardin de Paris, 1901

We are also honored when you choose to put a vintage poster from our collection into your home. We know this is an important decision; in fact your artwork is a focal point, and you will have it for a life time. As they say “start with the art”.

We have worked very hard to find the very best original advertising posters in the finest condition. We bring them to your zip code once a year. Sadly, there are no other South Bay Shows on our 2014 roster*- so now is the best time to see our collection in person. I bought 180 posters in France over the summer and we have great pieces to share with you.

What did I find in France you ask? French Rail Posters, Mid Century Posters, Spanish Travel Posters, teaching posters and many more things than I can describe in an email.. You have to see them all!

Colin, Paris – SNCF, 1945

Do you want to leave with a poster? If so, measure your walls. Set aside 1-2 hours to see all of the posters in our stacks. This is a considered purchase. We do know that once you have your poster, you will be happy to see it on your wall every time you arrive at home.

For more information on the antique show, read Antiques Columnist Steve Yvaska’s column about the show (with a nice mention of us)!

With Every Good Wish,

Elizabeth & Charly
Vintage Poster Concierges

Brocherium, Camping, c. 1960

· We have enjoyed seeing many of you over the years at our annual show at Anne Johnson’s Post 61 in Los Gatos. Anne is a talented interior designer of residential and commercial projects and a connoisseur of vintage posters. She has moved her office, and is busier than ever. Find Anne at ajinteriors@comcast.net (mailto:ajinteriors@comcast.net) or by calling Anne at (408) 832-1692
· If you would like to host us at your business in the South Bay, and think you have the right location, please let me know!