This rare and striking poster from circa 1900 showcases the booming early market for amateur photography with a bold typographic design that celebrates innovation and accessibility. Advertising more than 200 models of photographic equipment from the era’s leading brands—Kodak, Zeïss, and Agfa—this poster reflects the growing enthusiasm for capturing life through the lens at the turn of the 20th century.
The detailed illustration of a classic Kodak bellows camera anchors the composition, setting the tone for the technological sophistication of the time. The typography is dynamic and urgent, highlighting not just the variety of equipment available, but the promise of “Travaux amateurs en 24 heures”—a revolutionary offer for fast photo development services that helped democratize photography.
Beyond the iconic giants, the poster also name-drops a range of specialist suppliers—As de Trèfle, Lumière, Guilleminot, Gevaert—mapping out the diverse and competitive landscape of photographic tools and chemistry in pre-WWI France. At a time when photography was transitioning from a professional art to an everyday hobby, this poster speaks directly to the era's enthusiastic amateurs.
Printed by Imprimerie Lourtijoux in Montauban, the design balances commercial appeal with aesthetic elegance—ornate borders and symmetrical framing elevate what is essentially a retail advertisement into a collectible artifact.
This poster is more than an ad—it’s a vibrant snapshot of photography’s golden age, when image-making was becoming a tool of both personal expression and mass communication.
Advertising - Photography - Technology - France
Printed by Lourtioux in Montauban
Very good condition
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