Extensive Poster Collection

Some of the most effective graphic art of the 20th century can be found in many of the designs for posters done during the two major conflicts which defined the modern world. Jack Wood Gallery has a large number of pieces from all of the Allied countries with a special emphasis on the French World War I posters and those printed in this country by Strobridge during that same time.

We have a range of Tour de France posters from the early days to the current Tour of France. We currently feature several bicycle posters.

Ever so colorful and more and more collectible, we offer a variety of circus posters from the early Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to the Cole Brothers and Clyde Beatty. We are especially proud of the half sheet circus posters printed by Strobridge. The gallery maintains a good inventory in affordable circus posters from the 1940s and '50s that are ideal for decorating a child's room and have great potential as collectibles.

We have post-war and mid-century posters from France and from other places throughout the world. Additionally, Mucha, Livemont, Berthon, and Grasset are all represented in the Jack Wood Gallery collection. We specialize in building collections of Art Nouveau and are very proud of our efforts in garnering some of the best and rarest material that can be found. At the same time, we stock affordable pieces for novice collectors.

Some of the finest in turn-of-the-century graphic design was done for literary publications, such as Harper's, The Chap Book, Lippincott's, and The Bookman, among others. Edward Penfield is well represented in this genre as artistic director of Harper's during the 1890s. We have several of the posters he did then for the magazine. We also have many of the posters done by J.C. Leyendecker for the Inland Printer in 1897. Probably our most significant piece in stock is Will Bradley's wonderful Chap Book Thanksgiving number for 1895 poster.

We have many advertising-related posters, such as tobacco company posters and artwork for ballet and fashion businesses. Additionally, we have some other famous marketing pieces from throughout history.

Some of the most popular images in our collection are the ones that were the most eye-catching and successful in promoting the products that they featured. We have some nice material by the likes of Cappiello, Bocasille, Mercier, Robys, and Hohlwein. Especially rare are the Hohlwein beer posters for Teutonenbrau and an early Lowenbrau Bock piece.

All of the various genres of collectible transportation images can be found in our inventory, including automotive, aviation, and motorcycles. We have several vintage motorcycle racing posters and some of the fine calendar images done by Grif Teller for the Pennsylvania Railroad in the 1930s. Our stock also includes posters from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Grand Prix, post-war British racing, and a collection of different racing posters.

The great period of poster collecting was born during this very special time in history before Europe came to know the horror of the war to end all wars. Life was full and rich, and nowhere was this more evident than in the posters that adorned the streets of European cities. We have representative pieces by Cheret, Baylac, Lautrec, Steinlen, and Willette. We also maintain a strong selection of Les Maitres de l'Affiche.