Letitia Morris Gallery, owned by art dealer Brett Ross, has been specialising in Original Vintage Posters since 1993.
As the first to bring original Bally posters by Villemot to Melbourne, Brett has continued to source original vintage posters for over 23 years, predominantly from Paris and outlying French regions.
Today, the Gallery holds an extensive range of vintage posters that reflect the graphic diversity and ingenuity of 20th Century graphic designs, such as those by Bonnard, Cassandre, Gruau and Savignac.
The majority of the Gallery’s posters have been laid down on linen and “canson” paper backing for conservation purposes, ensuring stability and an enhanced presentation. Our linen backer is the only qualified restorer and backer of vintage posters in Australia. We also offer framing advice and services.
We invite you to visit our Gallery on High Street, Armadale, to see and experience our collection. Let us show you through our posters and share with you our knowledge and passion for these graphic creations.
About Original Vintage Posters
What is an original poster?
An original poster, quite simply, is the first printing of a graphic promotion. Later reproductions, though decorative, have no real value.
Why should I be interested in purchasing an original vintage poster?
Because it’s the world’s most popular art form. Its documentation is exceptionally diverse; at once historic, artistic, graphically wide-ranging and nostalgic. And on top of everything posters are decorative. Some of them are stunning and imaginative, while others are just downright pretty. Their appeal is timeless. They are rare, and above all they are original. They can be vintage or they can be contemporary. And remember that today’s latest advertising graphics are the classics of tomorrow.
Then why are the remaining posters valuable?
Because the quantity of the original poster doesn’t relate to its value. The quantity printed doesn’t really matter. What does matter is how many copies were saved on the day it was printed. There is no “day 2” for original posters. During the height of the poster craze in the late 1890’s, printers would overrun an edition of a design and sell these extras to poster clubs, advertisers, individual collectors, etc. These are the copies that have come down to us – those very few posters saved from the original overrun.
How many copies of a poster were printed?
In all honesty, we don’t know. It’s impossible to say how many copies were made to be pasted on the walls of any given city.
