Artmink

Italian Art Deco Period Borsalino Advertising Poster, “Il Vero Borsalino – È Inimitabile” (Color Lithograph on Paper)

By: Attributed design to Marcello Dudovich; commonly printed by Officine G. Ricordi & C., Milan (printer attribution not fully legible in the photo).

Style: Italian Art Deco / Early 20th-Century Commercial Poster

Origin: Italy

Materials: Color lithograph inks on paper (stone lithography for original issues; many later offset reprints exist).

Age: Design dated 1923; this framed impression likely a later reprint (circa late 20th century), but original 1923 stone-litho impressions also exist.

Condition: Very Good (framed; light overall toning and minor waviness visible; not officially graded; printing era undetermined)

Value: If an original 1923 stone-lithograph: $2,000–$5,000 at auction; if a later offset/litho reprint (most common): $80–$250.

Maker's Marks / Writing: Text on poster: “IL VERO BORSALINO ANTICA CASA … È INIMITABILE.” Upper-right affissione/tax stamp reads: “COMUNE DI MILANO / 20 APR 23 / AFFISSIONI e PUBBLICITÀ” (legibility partial). Lower-left appears to show a faint artist signature consistent with “M. Dudovich” and a small printer credit, possibly “Officine G. Ricordi & C., Milano,” though not fully readable from the photo.

Date: 2025-10-05 14:12:46.659689

Description:

Original advertising design for Borsalino hats showing a seated chimpanzee looking up at a hovering fedora, with bold red lettering on a yellow ground: “IL VERO BORSALINO ANTICA CASA … È INIMITABILE.” The layout, typography and imagery are classic early 1920s Italian poster work associated with Marcello Dudovich and the Ricordi printing works in Milan. This example appears framed; exact printing method and date of impression not confirmed.

Curator Questions

Curated by Jade

Assessment:

This is the well-known Borsalino hat poster with the chimpanzee and floating fedora, a witty visual to underscore the tagline “È inimitabile” (inimitable). The tax/affissione stamp at upper right reads “COMUNE DI MILANO 20 APR 23,” consistent with early-1920s postings; however, such stamps are sometimes reproduced in later printings. Without close-ups of the printing surface, margins, printer imprint, and paper/linen-back, I must treat this as a likely later reprint. Originals are stone-lithographed on period paper and typically show layered color with no halftone dots, a clear Ricordi credit, and period wear from posting or storage. A word about fakes.. vintage Italian posters are heavily reproduced; many modern decorative reprints (often with simulated stamps) circulate, so caution is warranted until verified by inspection under magnification and with the poster unframed.

Individual Images:

whole item

Provenance:

No provenance documents provided.

Condition:

Very Good (framed; light overall toning and minor waviness visible; not officially graded; printing era undetermined)

Identification Score: 95%

Typography (“IL VERO BORSALINO … È INIMITABILE”), imagery (chimp with floating fedora), and Milan tax stamp format match the famous Borsalino advertising poster known from the early 1920s. Subject and layout are unmistakable even if the exact print date is uncertain.

Authenticity Score: 35%

While the original design is from 1923, the single photo (behind glass) does not allow verification of stone-lithographic layering vs. modern offset dots, paper age, or a crisp printer’s imprint (e.g., Officine G. Ricordi). The visible municipal stamp could be printed, not applied. Many authorized and unauthorized reprints exist; therefore, I assume reproduction unless proven otherwise through magnified inspection, view of full margins, and back/paper analysis.

Image Memory Note

Framed vertical poster with a wide yellow field and red border. Large red block letters with black shadowing at top: “IL VERO BORSALINO” and smaller “ANTICA CASA.” Center image: a dark gray felt fedora hovering above a seated chimpanzee; the chimp faces forward, right hand touching its head in a thinking pose. Bottom in large red letters: “È INIMITABILE.” At upper right is a rectangular municipal stamp with rounded corners; it reads “COMUNE DI MILANO” with a date “20 APR 23” and smaller words likely “AFFISSIONI E PUBBLICITÀ.” Lower-left corner shows small printed lines including an illegible printer line and a cursive artist signature resembling “M. Dudovich.” Paper shows slight rippling/undulation; color appears evenly toned with some age toning; no tears or losses are visible within the frame; glazing reflections present. No visible margins beyond a narrow white border inside the red frame line. Overall composition and type consistent with early 1920s Italian advertising posters for Borsalino.

Keywords

Borsalino, Italian Art Deco poster, Marcello Dudovich, 1923, advertising, Milan, vintage poster, chimpanzee, fedora, Italy

Report ID:  : tsqkdd

Comparables (Similar Items)

eBay: Active Listings

No archived comparables matched this report yet.