They're really just ads...

...but I love them so.
Posters, especially old, illustrated, German ones, have been one of my little pet interests for decades. In college I discovered that the Germans were absolute masters of simple, clean, perfectly lettered design touting all manner of products, from cigarettes to beer to travel to zoos, and my favorite master of all is Ludwig Hohlwein, poster designer extraordinaire, who began working in the early 1900s. He was a member of the Plakatstil, or Poster Style. I even love how he signs his name. Julius Klinger, Hans Rudi Erdt, and the amazing Lucian Bernhard are also on my obsessive searching list. Each man had his own particular panache and specialization, yet all are so indicative of their style. You just can't beat them for gorgeous color and simplification and restraint, all in selling a product.

After browsing through the Flickr pool I found a few to share, but there are more. So many more! And read this fellow's interesting and well-documented article about the man.

Above are a few of my favorites, and below is a Bernhard that combines two of my favorite things; added plus: a print of this poster was a gift from the twin to me, and hangs in our bedroom. I'm running out of wall space for my beloved posters... I wonder if they have reproductions in postage stamp size?