Lot number

Estimated price

Description

COLUMBIA

‘Columbia Pope MFG Co. Hartford. Conn.’

Lithographic poster printed by: J.Ottman Lith. Co., New York

Artist: A. Romès

[Bears signature in image]

Dated: 1897

Size: 79 x 48.5 cm.

Materials/Media: Original lithographic poster, linen backed

Provenance: The Boskovštejn Bike Museum, Czech Republic.

A very interesting poster with a rare size.

Note: Surely one of the most grandiose concepts for advertising a bicycle–the woman glorifying the machine with a laurel wreath in a formal setting. Columbia bicycles sponsored a poster contest in 1896; the winner was Maxfield Parrish of Philadelphia, second prize went to O. Rohn of Montclair, New Jersey, and third prize (for this image) went to A. Romes of New York City. It was so popular that it was reprinted in Germany and in France, and a frequently seen photo of an 1898 Paris street scene shows four copies of this poster on the wall, next to Mucha’s Waverly Cycles. Columbia Chainless is a brand name of the Pope Manufacturing Co.

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