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

Antique, Vintage & Retro Advertising Memorabilia for Sale Online

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Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Enamel London Road Sign City of Westminster Ebury Street Belgravia SW1

£ 850

€993

$1,069

Enamel London Road Sign City of Westminster Ebury Street Belgravia SW1

£ 850

€993

$1069

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Elmgarden

Original GPO Glass “Telephone” Sign from a Red Phone Box

£ 225

€263

$283

Original GPO Glass “Telephone” Sign from a Red Phone Box

£ 225

€263

$283

Elmgarden

Whites Antiques

Early 20th Enamel Sign from an Estate

£ 135

€158

$170

Early 20th Enamel Sign from an Estate

£ 135

€158

$170

Whites Antiques

Original Painted Cart Side Sign

£ 435

€508

$547

Original Painted Cart Side Sign

£ 435

€508

$547

Whites Antiques

French Hand Painted Apothecary Sign 1900-1920

£ 550

€642

$692

French Hand Painted Apothecary Sign 1900-1920

£ 550

€642

$692

Whites Antiques

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

Bridget Riley Untitled (after Blaze) 1964 Screenprint on Paper

£ 295

€345

$371

Bridget Riley Untitled (after Blaze) 1964 Screenprint on Paper

£ 295

€345

$371

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

Elmgarden

British Rail Railway Speed Restriction Sign 45 Mph

£ 645

€753

$811

British Rail Railway Speed Restriction Sign 45 Mph

£ 645

€753

$811

Elmgarden

The Old Yard

Victorian Framed Advertising Poster

£ 725

€847

$912

Victorian Framed Advertising Poster

£ 725

€847

$912

The Old Yard

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe Poster 1971

£ 1,000

€1,168

$1,258

Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe Poster 1971

£ 1,000

€1168

$1258

Marlborough Antiques & Interiors

Elmgarden

Large Iron “Watneys” Pub Lantern

£ 1,250

€1,460

$1,572

Large Iron “Watneys” Pub Lantern

£ 1,250

€1460

$1572

Elmgarden

Wooden Trade Sign Advertising Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster

£ 2,250

€2,628

$2,830

Wooden Trade Sign Advertising Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster

£ 2,250

€2628

$2830

Elmgarden

Barber Shop Trade Sign, Giant Comb & Scissors

£ 800

€935

$1,006

Barber Shop Trade Sign, Giant Comb & Scissors

£ 800

€935

$1006

Elmgarden

D and A Binder LTD

Vintage Floro Shop Display

£ 168

€196

$211

Vintage Floro Shop Display

£ 168

€196

$211

D and A Binder LTD

Antiques & Chic

Old Enamel Goerz Cameras & Binoculars Advertising Sign

£ 825

€964

$1,038

Old Enamel Goerz Cameras & Binoculars Advertising Sign

£ 825

€964

$1038

Antiques & Chic

Michael Armson Antiques

American Painted Mechanical Coin Bank

£ 110

€128

$138

American Painted Mechanical Coin Bank

£ 110

€128

$138

Michael Armson Antiques

Vintage House

Railway Trespass Warning Sign for London & North Eastern Railway

£ 375

€438

$472

Railway Trespass Warning Sign for London & North Eastern Railway

£ 375

€438

$472

Vintage House

D and A Binder LTD

Strongarm Beer Sign

£ 540

€631

$679

Strongarm Beer Sign

£ 540

€631

$679

D and A Binder LTD

Vintage House

Original Mobiloil Advertising Poster 1935 by Piaubert

£ 120

€140

$151

Original Mobiloil Advertising Poster 1935 by Piaubert

£ 120

€140

$151

Vintage House

Richard Twort

Martini Advertising Barometer & Thermometer

£ 325

€380

$409

Martini Advertising Barometer & Thermometer

£ 325

€380

$409

Richard Twort

Whites Antiques

French 1960 Decorative Butcher’s Sign 'coq' on Card - Later Frame

£ 440

€514

$553

French 1960 Decorative Butcher’s Sign 'coq' on Card - Later Frame

£ 440

€514

$553

Whites Antiques

Elmgarden

3 Dimensional French Toleware Glove Maker’s Shop Trade Sign

£ 1,650

€1,927

$2,075

3 Dimensional French Toleware Glove Maker’s Shop Trade Sign

£ 1,650

€1927

$2075

Elmgarden

Eye & Glasses Window Display Trade Sign

£ 650

€759

$818

Eye & Glasses Window Display Trade Sign

£ 650

€759

$818

Elmgarden

Advertising Presentation Glass Chalice for Bells Scotch Whisky

£ 775

€905

$975

Advertising Presentation Glass Chalice for Bells Scotch Whisky

£ 775

€905

$975

Elmgarden

Large Early 20th Century Palethorps Pictorial Enamel Sausage Sign

£ 1,450

€1,694

$1,824

Large Early 20th Century Palethorps Pictorial Enamel Sausage Sign

£ 1,450

€1694

$1824

Elmgarden

Victorian Empire Tea Cabinet, Tea Room, Cafe Display

£ 2,250

€2,628

$2,830

Victorian Empire Tea Cabinet, Tea Room, Cafe Display

£ 2,250

€2628

$2830

Elmgarden

Richard Twort

Pan American Airways Advertising Barometer

£ 325

€380

$409

Pan American Airways Advertising Barometer

£ 325

€380

$409

Richard Twort

Elmgarden

Kiwi Boot Polish Advertising Shoe Shine Box with Shoe Rest

£ 1,250

€1,460

$1,572

Kiwi Boot Polish Advertising Shoe Shine Box with Shoe Rest

£ 1,250

€1460

$1572

Elmgarden

D and A Binder LTD

1950s Childrenswear Shop Sign

£ 120

€140

$151

1950s Childrenswear Shop Sign

£ 120

€140

$151

D and A Binder LTD

Elmgarden

London Laundry Co. Industrial Trolley Cart

£ 895

€1,045

$1,126

London Laundry Co. Industrial Trolley Cart

£ 895

€1045

$1126

Elmgarden

Tales to Tell Antiques

19th Century French Printed Advertising Fan with 18th Century Scene

£ 55

€64

$69

19th Century French Printed Advertising Fan with 18th Century Scene

£ 55

€64

$69

Tales to Tell Antiques

Late 19th Century French Paper Advertising Fan with 18th Century Scenes

£ 40

€47

$50

Late 19th Century French Paper Advertising Fan with 18th Century Scenes

£ 40

€47

$50

Tales to Tell Antiques

Two French Printed Advertising Fans

£ 45

€53

$57

Two French Printed Advertising Fans

£ 45

€53

$57

Tales to Tell Antiques

Elmgarden

Large McEwan’s Pale India Ale Advertising Mirror, Pub Sign Mirror for McEwans

£ 3,950

€4,614

$4,969

Large McEwan’s Pale India Ale Advertising Mirror, Pub Sign Mirror for McEwans

£ 3,950

€4614

$4969

Elmgarden

Very Large Gold Brass Odeon Cinema Exit Sign

£ 1,350

€1,577

$1,698

Very Large Gold Brass Odeon Cinema Exit Sign

£ 1,350

€1577

$1698

Elmgarden

Elder Books & Collectables

Original 1877 Complete Booklet for Pear's Soap Adverts For Complexion & Children

£ 26

€30

$33

Original 1877 Complete Booklet for Pear's Soap Adverts For Complexion & Children

£ 26

€30

$33

Elder Books & Collectables

Deviantik

Decorators Brass Sign

£ 99

€116

$125

Decorators Brass Sign

£ 99

€116

$125

Deviantik

Vintage Boot Makers Brass Sign

£ 115

€134

$145

Vintage Boot Makers Brass Sign

£ 115

€134

$145

Deviantik

Sunnyside Antiques

Whisky Glass - Vintage Advertising

£ 78

€91

$98

Whisky Glass - Vintage Advertising

£ 78

€91

$98

Sunnyside Antiques

Elmgarden

Small Collection of Folk Art Wooden Letters

£ 225

€263

$283

Small Collection of Folk Art Wooden Letters

£ 225

€263

$283

Elmgarden

City of London Glass Edwardian Street Sign - Lothbury E.C.2

£ 1,250

€1,460

$1,572

City of London Glass Edwardian Street Sign - Lothbury E.C.2

£ 1,250

€1460

$1572

Elmgarden

Antique Advertising For Sale

Material

Period

Origin

Vintage Advertising & Antique Advert Memorabilia