Vintage 1955 Stockholmia Stamp Exhibition Poster Mid-Century Modern Martin Gavler

Item Description

Original offset lithograph advertising poster for the Stockholmia 55 International Stamp Exhibition, held from July 1 to July 10, 1955. Designed by renowned Swedish graphic artist and designer Martin Gavler, this striking piece showcases a bold, quintessential mid-century modern aesthetic with deep blue, black, and yellow tones.

Medium: Offset lithograph on paper

Dimensions: 39 x 24 inches

Condition: Fair vintage condition. Features a tear with loss to the lower right corner, tears and tape marks along the top edge, and some short tears along the sides. Displays standard wear consistent with age and historical use. A fantastic restoration or framing candidate for collectors of mid-century design and philatelic ephemera.

Maker Bio: Martin Gavler (1915–1986)

Martin Gavler was a prominent Swedish commercial artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. He studied at the Tekniska skolan in Stockholm and later became heavily influential in Swedish design pedagogy, serving as a teacher at Konstfack and eventually heading its graphic design department from 1956 to 1959. Gavler established his own freelance studio in 1940, producing prominent advertising campaigns, over 250 film posters, and collaborations with the Swedish Post. He was a founding member of the prestigious Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) and co-founded Sweden's famous Golden Egg design awards. His work is represented in major collections, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm.

Historic Information & Interesting Facts

The Exhibition: Stockholmia 55 was a major international philatelic exhibition that drew stamp collectors, creators, and enthusiasts from across the globe to Sweden's capital in the summer of 1955.

Mid-Century Graphic Design: During the 1950s, Scandinavian graphic designers played a massive role in shaping international typography and minimalist composition. Gavler's poster merges technical precision with striking geometric lines, reflecting the era's fascination with global connectivity and modernism.

The Artist's Legacy: Gavler's contributions to Swedish advertising are deeply tied to the history of national communications; alongside his exhibition posters, his decades-long creative footprint includes vital work for the Swedish postal service and institutional design groups.