3/19/2024, 7:48:22
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Vintage Advertising & Antique Advert Memorabilia

(133 items)

Old advertising is a fantastic way to peek into the social and business worlds of the past. Usually vibrant, clever, witty and artistically accomplished these works of art were created for one purpose only- to grab your attention and sell ! Early examples were usually painted onto wood, carved out of wood or printed. In 1816 the invention of two-colour lithography meant bright colours could finally be added to printed adverts and posters and then the invention of enamel signs from the 1860s onwards further revolutionised how people publicised their wares around the built environment.


Today antique and vintage advertising is as desirable as ever and looks great displayed on the wall. From hard wearing signs to fragile posters these items add character and are chocked full of the fashions and fads of the day. On a more personal scale business trade cards and labels have remained popular for hundreds of years but during the 19th Century the variety of ways to advertise grew to include far more unusual objects such as mirrors, bottles, match boxes and all manner of novelty items. This continued into the 20th Century to leave us a wealth of fantastic advertising objects.


At Love Antiques we have a fine selection of antique and vintage advertising for all your needs.    

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Vintage Gentlemans Pipe Smokers Cabinet

CS & T Ornate Objects & Furniture

Vintage Gentlemans Pipe Smokers Cabinet

£ 295

€345
$371
Vintage Gentlemans Pipe Smokers Cabinet

Vintage Gentlemans Pipe Smokers Cabinet

£ 295

€345
$371

CS & T Ornate Objects & Furniture

Large Early 20th Century Enamel Advertising Sign

£ 1,495

€1,746
$1,881
Large Early 20th Century Enamel Advertising Sign

Large Early 20th Century Enamel Advertising Sign

£ 1,495

€1746
$1881

The Old Yard

Strongarm Beer Sign

D and A Binder LTD

Strongarm Beer Sign

£ 540

€631
$679
Strongarm Beer Sign

Strongarm Beer Sign

£ 540

€631
$679

D and A Binder LTD

Goodyear Tyre Advertising Barometer

£ 235

€275
$296
Goodyear Tyre Advertising Barometer

Goodyear Tyre Advertising Barometer

£ 235

€275
$296

Richard Twort

Martini Advertising Barometer & Thermometer

£ 325

€380
$409
Martini Advertising Barometer & Thermometer

Martini Advertising Barometer & Thermometer

£ 325

€380
$409

Richard Twort

Pan American Airways Advertising Barometer

£ 325

€380
$409
Pan American Airways Advertising Barometer

Pan American Airways Advertising Barometer

£ 325

€380
$409

Richard Twort

English Rose & Crown Car Grill Badge

£ 120

€140
$151
English Rose & Crown Car Grill Badge

English Rose & Crown Car Grill Badge

£ 120

€140
$151

Wildwinds Antiques

1950s Childrenswear Shop Sign

£ 120

€140
$151
1950s Childrenswear Shop Sign

1950s Childrenswear Shop Sign

£ 120

€140
$151

D and A Binder LTD

London Laundry Co. Industrial Trolley Cart

£ 895

€1,045
$1,126
Two French Printed Advertising Fans

£ 45

€53
$57
Two French Printed Advertising Fans

Two French Printed Advertising Fans

£ 45

€53
$57

Tales to Tell Antiques

Very Large Gold Brass Odeon Cinema Exit Sign

£ 1,350

€1,577
$1,698
Decorators Brass Sign

£ 99

€116
$125
Decorators Brass Sign

Decorators Brass Sign

£ 99

€116
$125

Deviantik

Whisky Glass - Vintage Advertising

£ 78

€91
$98
Whisky Glass - Vintage Advertising

Whisky Glass - Vintage Advertising

£ 78

€91
$98

Sunnyside Antiques

Advertising Stoneware Bottle

£ 79

€92
$99
Advertising Stoneware Bottle

Advertising Stoneware Bottle

£ 79

€92
$99

Sunnyside Antiques

Enamel London Road Sign Borough of St Marylebone Old Quebec Street W1

£ 850

€993
$1,069
Vintage Boot Makers Brass Sign

£ 115

€134
$145
Vintage Boot Makers Brass Sign

Vintage Boot Makers Brass Sign

£ 115

€134
$145

Deviantik

Large Early 20th Century Advertising Sign

£ 800

€935
$1,006
Large Early 20th Century Advertising Sign

Large Early 20th Century Advertising Sign

£ 800

€935
$1006

The Old Yard

Brass & Enamelled Sign Makers Plaque

£ 99

€116
$125
Brass & Enamelled Sign Makers Plaque

Brass & Enamelled Sign Makers Plaque

£ 99

€116
$125

Deviantik

Vintage Advertising Antiques FAQs


When did advertising become popular?

People have been advertising their wares for thousands of years scratching into bricks and painting wooden signs and pottery. However the emergence of the printing press meant that from the 17th Century onwards printed advertising became cheap and easy to produce through newspapers, gazettes, magazines, flyers, and journals. Better quality images through copper plate processes emerged from the mid 18th Century and colour tones began to be printed from the start of the 19th Century. While the approach to advertising has not really changed over the years, the sheer quantity has, in part due to even more mediums emerging such as radio, television and internet.


What are the most popular vintage advertisement items?

Most collectors of old advertising are drawn to the works for their own unique reasons, either because of the subject, Era or artwork. Enamel signs and posters are the most popular fields collected due to their variety and versatility. In each case condition and rarity determine the price, but all forms of advertising are collected from labels, cards and signs to far more unusual novelty items.


What is the oldest antique advertisement item?

The first known purpose made advertisements were written onto Papyrus and date to at least 3000 B.C from ancient Egypt. However people will have been scratching their shop or business name on to wood or clay even before that.


Why does retro advertising create nostalgia?

In an era when marketing focuses primarily on the future, the purpose of retro advertising art is to transport us back to the past where life is simpler. This type of advertising tells us about the fashions, fads and innovations from years gone by. If we were alive at that time it can remind us of who we were at the time, and if the advert is older than us we can still be transported in our mind to that other era.