Artist: ANONYMOUS Size: 35 3/4 x 49 1/4 in./91 x 125 cm CGF, Buenos Aires In 1900, Manuel Malagrida, who owned two tobacco factories in Argentina, organized the first poster contest ever held in South America. The theme was “Cigarillos Paris–Tabaco Habaño.” There were 111 posters submitted, and nineteen prizes were awarded. The top seven award winners are reproduced in this poster, which solicits entries for the second contest in 1901, while simultaneously advertising the product. The winning artists, top to bottom center: Aurelio Gimenez (2nd prize); Candido Villalobos (1st); Jorge d’Orlandi (4th). On the left, top to bottom: Antonio Vaccari (2nd additional prize); Fernando Fader (5th). On the right: Alvin Gaspary (3rd); Angel Roaschio (6th). Art Nouveau style dominates in the designs as well as in the frames and ornamental elements tying them together; in fact, the Art Nouveau master himself, Alphonse Mucha, created a poster design for this company back in 1897. The depicted entries in this montage are of excellent quality, evidencing the high standard of South American poster art at the turn of the century.

A-/ Slight tears at edges.