Poster Auctions International's Rare Posters Auction #84 held July 20th totals $1.9 million in sales

NEW YORK - July 31, 2021 - PRLog -- Poster Auctions International's (PAI) second sale of the year, on July 20^th, finished at $1.9 million in sales. Rare Posters Auction LXXXIV demonstrated a continued passion for the masters of the poster—namely, Alphonse Mucha.

Jack Rennert, President of PAI, said, "This auction, collectors proved the enduring charm of Art Nouveau masters, and particularly that of Alphonse Mucha, whose Belle Époque works have a timeless appeal for seasoned and new collectors alike. There's no question that Mucha was the star of this sale. But the strength of Art Nouveau works did not diminish the enthusiasm for Art Deco designs, as witnessed by our strong sales of works by Broders, Cassandre, and Loupot."

Indeed, collectors clamored for works from the master of Belle Époque beauty, Alphonse Mucha. His lush and evocative designs encouraged fierce bidding and record-breaking sales. His ethereal 1902 series of four decorative panels, The Stars, was the auction's top lot, at $120,000 (est. $60,000-$70,000). His first-ever poster, Gismonda / Théâtre de la Renaissance, from 1894, beat all previous results for a winning bid of $50,400 (est. $20,000-$25,000). And his luminous Cycles Perfecta, from 1902, received a winning bid of $40,800 (est. $25,000-$30,000).

Another master of the Art Nouveau era, Toulouse-Lautrec's works sold reliably well at auction. His top sale was for the 1892 limited edition print, La Goulue et sa Sœur, which sold for $78,000. His serpentine 1899 Jane Avril was sold for $72,000; the 1892 Reine de Joie was won for $66,000; his 1896 The Ault & Wiborg Co. / Au Concert went for $60,000.

Other gems of the Art Nouveau era delighted collectors. Ferdinand Lunel's celestial Rouxel & Dubois bicycle poster, from ca. 1894, was sold for $6,600. The never-before-seen ca. 1900 Terrot / Bicyclettes de Tourisme, by Francisco Tamagno, was swept up for $2,880. A rare ca. 1898 circus billboard by Pal, Lord John Sanger / Troupeau d'Éléphants, surpassed its estimate of $7,000-$9,000 for a winning bid of $12,000.

Poster Auctions International's next Rare Posters Auction will be held in New York on Sunday, November 14^th. Consignments are accepted until August 16^th. Poster Auctions International is located at 26 W. 17th Street, New York, NY 10011. PAI may be reached by phone at 212-787-4000, or via email at info@posterauctions.com. To learn more about PAI, visit www.posterauctions.com.