A short history of the poster
Discover the history of the pictoral poster, from the 15th century to the present day
Posters
Posters have been a vital means of communication, and a familiar feature of our public spaces since the 19th century. Whether promoting products and services, exhibitions and performances, political causes or protests, they are compelling visual evidence of our social and cultural history.
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The V&A has been actively collecting posters on an international scale from the early 20th century to the present day. We now hold the most extensive collection in the UK, with more than 26,000 items, including examples by the masters of the medium – Chéret, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cassandre, McKnight Kauffer – and the work of anonymous activists.
Collection highlights
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Colour screenprint poster advertising bands performing at the UFO Club, London, designed by Michael English, published by Osiris Visions Ltd, 1967, UK -
Colour lithograph poster advertising the Nord Express train from Paris to Riga, by Adolphe Mouron Cassandre, 1927, France -
Colour lithograph poster for the Underground Electric Railways Co. of London, Ltd., by Edward McKnight Kauffer, issued by Underground Electric Railways Co. of London, Ltd., 1930, London, England -
Colour lithograph poster for East Coast Resorts by L.N.E.R., by Tom Purvis, about 1925, UK -
Colour lithograph poster advertising La Loïe Fuller at the Folies-Bergère, by Jules Chéret, printed by Imprimerie Chaix, Ateliers Cherét, 1893, Paris, France -
Down with US imperialism, Down with Soviet revisionism, screenprint, by students from Xian University, 1967, China -
Jane Avril au Jardin de Paris, lithograph poster, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1893, Paris, France -
On vous intoxique!, screenprint, by Atelier Populaire, 1968, Paris, France -
Lithograph poster for Tropon powdered eggs, by Henry van de Velde, 1898, Belgium -
Keep Smiling. Guinness Is Good For You, lithograph poster, by John Gilroy, about 1939 – 45, UK -
Lithograph poster for the Berlin Zoologischer Garten, by Julius Klinger Germany, published by Hollerbaum & Schmidt, 1910, Berlin, Germany -
Men who mean business read the Financial Times every day, lithograph poster, designed by Abram Games, 1952, UK -
Job, poster, by Alphonse Mucha, 1898
Features
Health and safety posters
Stop! Don't make another click until you've viewed our health & safety posters
Preparing a Bollywood poster for stretching: ASMR
Step inside the Painting Conservation Studio to see this enormous hand-painted poster be prepared for display
A brief history of vampires – in print, photography and posters
Discover, if you dare, how Count Dracula haunts the V&A's collections
100 years of V&A exhibition posters
Discover a weird and wonderful selection of V&A exhibition posters from yesteryear
The art of Bollywood
Changing times in India, as seen through the lens of the film industry
Ashley Havinden and the 'Britain Can Make It' poster
Explore the development of Ashley Havinden's patriotic poster for the landmark 1946 exhibition, 'Britain Can Make It'.
Theatre posters – an illustrated history
Explore over 400 years of theatre poster design
A history of food posters
Explore over 100 years of food poster design and the rise of a global, billion-dollar industry
Selling the seaside – British holiday posters
Explore the history of holidays at home with these classic British posters
Designing democracy: posters and the political transformation of Europe
An extensive collection of political posters relating to democratic change in Europe
The art of the ocean liner travel poster
Enjoy this selection of iconic posters from our collection, charting 70 years of ocean travel
Header image: Colour screenprint poster advertising bands performing at the UFO Club, London, Michael English, 1967, UK. Museum no. E.38-1968. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London