You own a "ski poster" and would like to know its value at auction?
Our auctioneers and experts in the : Posters department give you a few pointers to find out more about your ski poster and find out its value on the art market.
In this article, discover the history and characteristics of ski posters, learn how to estimate it and find out its price at auction!
Recognizing an old ski poster
The best-known vintage ski posters often date from 1920 to 1950. Featuring Chamonix, Mont-Blanc, Zermatt, Gstaad, the Grenoble Olympics, ... they are the object of covetous collectors or nostalgics.
Posters took off in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of this new sport. The first posters promoted famous ski resorts in France, Austria and Switzerland. From the 30s to the 50s, the ski poster, often influenced by Art Deco, enjoyed its heyday.
Throughout the years, great names have distinguished themselves: Roger Broders, Emil Cardinaux, Alex Walter Diggelman, Franz Lenhart, Carl Moos.
Let's not forget the posters made by ski clothing brands like the famous Nivose clothing. Some of their posters, designed by Kama (Karl Machatschek) can fetch up to 15,000 euros.
So? A few dozen euros or several thousand? What's your poster worth? Let's find out together.
Estimating the value of a ski poster
To identify your poster, you need to look at the model, the artist, the year of publication but also the printer.
According to artists
Collectors in search of real treasures are drawn to photographs by iconic artists, These include the great Karl Machatschek (1906-1994), nicknamed KAMA. His posters tell the story of the beginnings of winter sports in the Alps and Pyrenees, of which he was the resident photographer.
As an advertising artist, Karl Machatschek acquired his training at the Munich School of Applied Arts and the Berlin Fine Arts. After a period as a ski instructor in Megève, he turned to outdoor photography, capturing the beauty and essence of winter sports.
The poster artists' original works are signed, for the most part, but it's important to remain vigilant for forgeries.
The misspelled name Karl Machatschek, for example, should ring a bell. It's not uncommon to come across different variations of his signature, such as "Machatchek" without the "s," "Ph. Machatchek" or "Philip Machatchek"....
The "Ph. " is sometimes interpreted as a first name, but it is actually an abbreviation of "Photo", a term commonly used on advertising posters.
Roger Broders, the author of the vintage 1930 Chamonix Mont Blanc winter sports poster for the 1930 Ice Hockey World Championship, Georges Dorival, Carl Moos who covered the 1928 St. Moritz Winter Olympics, Pierre Boucher and Walther Koch are other renowned poster artists.
State of preservation
Due to their specific use for promotional purposes by gluing, exposure to the elements, etc., Due to their specific use for promotional purposes (collage, exposure to the elements, etc.), the vintage posters that reach auction houses today in excellent condition are the result of a meticulous conservation process. Some of them are probably recovered immediately after printing, and have never been used, a rather rare occurrence for this kind of poster.
It's more common to find vintage posters folded, which can lead to a depreciation in their value due to the apparent marks.
However, for very large posters, a slight cross-fold imprint may be tolerated. Posters already in collections are often restored, sometimes with repaints or canvas, for example.
The Edition
A number of posters have been reissued over the years, some of which date back several decades. This practice can lead to confusion between the original posters and their reissued versions, on the part of both sellers and buyers. One of the main reasons for this confusion is the absence of the reprint date, which should appear in the margin of the poster.
Accidental tears at the edges of the poster can erase this crucial information and only add to the complexity of identification. Care should therefore be taken.
It may be necessary to familiarize yourself with the distinguishing features of reissued and original ski posters.
Printing technology
Heliography and lithography are among the most common methods used for vintage ski posters. Heliography was used by Draeger for Leblanc's 1962 "Ski en France" poster. This technique relies on the use of light-sensitive photographic plates to reproduce images.
For the vintage travel poster made by Dubois around 1950 "O sol pratica o ski en França", printer Courbet uses lithography. This technique is appreciated for its ability to reproduce fine details and sharp color nuances. It can also be used to reproduce images or text on a variety of substrates: paper, cardboard, metal or lithographic stone.
By examining these elements you are able to estimate your poster and determine whether it is an authentic work or a modern reproduction.
Record sales of ski posters
"Nivose, le vêtement "chic" du vrai skieur" by Karl Machatschek, is a color printed poster signed "KAMA, Megève" in the plate, which sold for 15,000 euros in France. It measures 116x76 cm. It is accompanied by an exceptional set of 37 pieces of the same poster. The straight edges show slight fringing.
"Chamonix - Kandahar La plus grande épreuve internationale de Ski - 5 6 7 8 mars 1948", an unsupported poster by Gorde Gaston, Grenoble, measuring 99.5 x 61.5 cm, sold for 1,900 euros in France. It does, however, have some soiling, creases and damp stains, some missing parts and tears.
Discover the ski posters sold in Millon's auctions and have yours appraised.
These record results correspond to exceptional pieces, it is more common to find posters at a few hundred euros.
- "Join the Sun on the Ski - Run in France" by printer Courbet circa 1950 is a poster designed by Dubois estimated between 450 and 900 euros and sold for 450 euros ;
- "Alpine Skiing The French Alps" by MONSIEUR Z is an unsupported poster printed by Harris Grafica, with a size of 69 x 49 cm, estimated at 600 euros and sold for 500 euros ;
- another copy of "Chamonix - Kandahar La plus grande épreuve internationale de Ski - 5 6 7 8 mars 1948", by GORDE GASTON measuring 99.5 x 61.5 cm is estimated at between 800 and 1,600 euros and sold for 800 euros ;
Our offices, located throughout France, welcome you for a physical examination of your poster. We also organize free appraisal days throughout France and neighboring countries.
Get a free estimate for my ski poster
Based on its experience in the art market, our team of auctioneers and experts in the department - Posters - will give you a free estimate for your ski posters. This estimate takes into account the results obtained in auction rooms for similar productions.
Our experts carry out a free and confidential estimate of your posters, then accompany you to sell it at auction for the best price.