Gail Chisholm: A Life in Posters
Nearly a quarter of our March 1 auction of Vintage Posters was devoted to highlights from the collection of renowned poster dealer and aficionado Gail Chisholm. The sale opened with more than 130 premier examples ranging from fin de siècle literary advertisements to World War II propaganda, which have been organized into their own catalogue. Proceeds from the sale of these posters will benefit one of Gail’s favorite non-profit organizations.
Lot 29: Georges Dorival, Vers le Mont – Blanc, group of three posters, 1928. Sold for $13,750.
Gail Chisholm was beloved in the poster community for her impeccable taste and sense of humor. The colorful cross section of twentieth-century posters was led by a suite of three works—unique to the travel poster genre—by Georges Dorival, titled Vers le Mont – Blanc, 1928. The set displays the majestic peak throughout the day to lure all potential tourists, from early risers to night owls. Breathtaking travel advertisements for Scotland included two depicting holes on the famed Gleneagles golf course—The “Howe o’ Hope” and The “Heich o’ Fash”. Powerful graphic works by Adolphe Mouron Cassandre included Chemin de Fer du Nord, 1929, and Paris, 1935.
Gail Chisholm moved from a small town in Virginia to New York City at the age of 20. She devoted the next 42 years of her life to a marvelous mixture of art, culture, history and commerce. Her gallery operated from 1975 to 1994 in the West Village and from 1995 to 2017 in Chelsea. An unmistakable theme in Chisholm’s collection is a concentration of tantalizing advertisements for food and drink. Two posters from Charles Loupot’s iconic 1930 series for Cointreau demonstrate the artist’s mastery by using the color of the beverage as a thematic element while also reminding the viewer of the fruit from which it derives. Additional culinary highlights include J. Stall’s Champagne Joseph Perrier, circa 1929 and two featuring lobsters.
Lot 69: Dorfi (Albert Dorfinant), Quinquina Duhomard, circa 1935. Sold for $2,295.
The void created by Gail’s absence will never be filled. At the end of her life, Gail was comforted by the knowledge that the posters in her collection would find good homes. In accordance with her wishes, proceeds from the sale of these posters will benefit Planned Parenthood of New York City.