NEW YORK, NY.- Swann Galleries’ Spring auction of Graphic Design on April 2 performed above expectations, “…as rare and sought after works were eagerly fought over by collectors, dealers and institutions” Nicholas D. Lowry, director of vintage poster and president of Swann, remarked over the offering. The sale saw a 71% sell-through rate with 147 lots finding buyers. Strong results were seen for mid-century campaigns focusing on science, cars, and food and drink. “It is always reaffirming to see the market meet us on what we consider to be singular and important works. This auction reflected this notion, and we are eagerly looking to the same sale next year!” Lowry concluded.

The auction was led by a rare example of window card for A.M. Cassandre’s Café Chat Noir, 1932, at $24,130. Also of note in the food and beverage genre was a rare 1964 billboard by Bruno Munari Campari which was designed for the opening of the M1 “red line” of the Milan Metro, which earned $19,050.

Two works created for the Museum of Modern Art’s 1949 Polio Poster Competition found succus. Herbert Bayer’s Polio Research, 1949, made it’s auction debut at $10,160, against a $1,200 to $1,800 estimate, and Milton Ackoff’s Polio Care Open to All, 1949, reached $1,651.

Further STEM related advertisements were dominated by Erik Nitsche’s designs for General Dynamics, with The Energetic Sea, 1958, bringing $6,350, a record for the poster and the second highest price for a work from the series. Additional General Dynamics highlights included Triga, 1958, at $3,556, Electronic Intelligence, 1955, at $3,302, First Step into Space, 1958 ($2,794), and Atoms for Peace, 1955 ($2,540). A 1980 poster for Apple earned $2,794, a record for any printed work by Rob Janoff. The house has brought more works by Janoff—the creator of the iconic Apple computer logo—to market than any other auctions combined.

Automobile posters spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s with Roger Pérot’s Delahaye, 1932, bringing $8,890, and Hanns Lohrer’s Porsche / For Carefree Country Life, 1961, at $5,588, a record for the artist, as well as Lohrer’s Porsche / The Sport For Men With Personality, 1962, at $3,302. Josef Müller-Brockman’s Schützt das Kind!, 1953, earned a record for the poster at $2,508.

Additional auction records included Otto Baumberger’s Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 1928, a record for the poster at $3,302; Massimo Vignelli's Knoll International, 1967, earned a record for the artist at $3,048; and Charles and Ray Eames game Giant House of Cards, 1953, complete with 20 cards, was a record for the work at $3,048. Firsts at auction included an impressive, typographic poster by John Rieben, A is the First Letter of the Alphabet, 1966, created for the Chicago Public Library. The work sold for $2,032.