A.M. Cassandre's 1931 design for Triplex, a safety glass for vehicles
In the print category it was once mostly the books and their bindings and they are still essential but no longer even the unqualified leading element in the works on paper category. These days displayable printed material routinely makes headlines no doubt reflecting both Internet access to images and the increasing preference for material that can be displayed.
Another aspect of strengthening interest and the emergence of categories is the increasing interest in 20th century collectibles – often material resonant with memories and awareness.
These two elements come together in the upcoming sale of Art Deco Posters, advertisements and examples of typography at Swann Galleries on May 13th. This is their annual sale in the category and it’s an important event.
The following is taken from the company’s explanation of the sale.
The most valuable works in the sale are those by Art Deco designer A.M. Cassandre, which includes one of his earliest designs, Turmac / La Cigarette Turque, 1925 [estimate: $15,000 to $20,000]; a poster for safety glass brand Triplex, Paris, 1931 [also estimated $15,000 to $20,000], the iconic Nord Express, 1927 [estimated $12,000 to $18,000]; The Continent / via Harwich, London, 1928 [estimated $8,000 to $12,000]; a Grand Sport hat advertisement, 1931 [estimated $15,000 to $20,000], and an unpublished maquette on wood for L’Art Decoratif & la Lpeinture Moderne Francaise / Lord and Taylor, 1927 [estimated $25,000 to $35,000].
Among other Art Deco highlights are three different posters for the 1925 Paris show that gave the movement its name, Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, two different sizes of Robert Bonfils’s design [estimated $3,000 to $4,000 each], and the scarce small format version of Andre Girard’s image [estimated $2,000 to $3,000]; Franco Barberis’s Candee featuring a stylish woman walking her dog in the rain, 1929 [estimated $4,000 to $6,000]; Franz Lenhart’s image of a woman smoking a cigarette for Modiano, 1935 [estimated $4,000 to $6,000]; and a rare Spanish variant of JUpp Wiertz’s Hindenburg poster, Viagjes Agradables a Alemania, circa 1935 [estimated $4,000 to $6,000].
Another celebrated travel poster is Imperial Airways / Map of Empire Air Routes, attributed to Hungarian avant-garde Laszlo Moholy-Nagy [estimated $12,000 to $18,000].
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
