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The Abbazia lithographic poster in colours, after M. Romoli, is a rare and visually captivating example of late twentieth-century travel poster design at its most accomplished — a colour lithograph printed in 1980 by the celebrated Geneva printing house Barabino & Graeve, backed on linen, and preserved in condition A. Produced to celebrate and promote Abbazia — the historic Adriatic resort town known today as Opatija, on the Croatian coast of the Kvarner Gulf, and one of the most celebrated and aristocratic seaside destinations in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and its successor states — this poster represents a compelling document of the enduring tradition of European travel poster design, rendered here with the chromatic richness, graphic elegance, and material quality entirely characteristic of Barabino & Graeve's most distinguished productions.
Abbazia occupies an entirely singular position in the history of European travel and leisure culture. Developed as a resort destination from the mid-nineteenth century onwards under Austro-Hungarian patronage, the town attracted the crowned heads, aristocrats, writers, and intellectuals of the late imperial world — among them Franz Joseph I of Austria, who made Abbazia a favored destination of the imperial court. Its grand hotels, elegant promenades, lush Mediterranean gardens, and spectacular Adriatic setting established it as one of the most prestigious and widely celebrated resort destinations on the European coast, and its visual identity — combining the architecture of Viennese Secession and Art Nouveau with the luminous blues and greens of the Kvarner Gulf — provided graphic artists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with a subject of extraordinary richness, beauty, and evocative power.
Printed by Barabino & Graeve — the legendary Geneva printing house with a history stretching back to the nineteenth century and a reputation as one of the finest and most technically accomplished producers of travel and promotional lithographic posters in Europe — the Abbazia poster achieves a level of chromatic intensity, graphic refinement, and material presence entirely consistent with the very highest standards of European lithographic production. The condition A rating confirms the exceptional state of preservation of this impression — outstanding for a linen-backed travel poster of this scale and origin. The linen backing ensures the long-term structural integrity of the paper support and facilitates both display and handling, making this a fully displayable and museum-quality example of the genre.
The work is in condition A — excellent. Full condition report available upon request.
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Who is M. Romoli? M. Romoli is the graphic artist whose composition forms the basis of this Abbazia lithographic poster — produced in 1980 by the celebrated Geneva printing house Barabino & Graeve. The designation "after M. Romoli" indicates that the poster was printed after Romoli's original design, a standard practice in the production of travel and promotional lithographic posters of this period.
What does "after" mean in this context? The designation "after M. Romoli" indicates that the lithographic poster was produced after — that is, based upon and reproducing — an original composition by M. Romoli. This is a standard and well-established terminology in the description of vintage posters and printed works, confirming the authorship of the original design while acknowledging that the printed object is a lithographic reproduction of that design.
What is Abbazia? Abbazia — known today as Opatija, on the Croatian Adriatic coast — was one of the most celebrated and aristocratic seaside resort destinations in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, attracting the crowned heads, aristocrats, and intellectuals of the late imperial world. Its grand hotels, elegant promenades, and spectacular Adriatic setting made it one of the most prestigious destinations on the European coast and one of the most visually evocative subjects in the history of European travel poster design.
Who printed the poster? The poster was printed by Barabino & Graeve — the legendary Geneva printing house with a history stretching back to the nineteenth century and a reputation as one of the finest and most technically accomplished producers of travel and promotional lithographic posters in Europe.
What printing technique was used? The poster is a lithograph in colours — a technically demanding printing process that allows for the reproduction of chromatically rich, graphically sophisticated compositions with exceptional fidelity and surface quality, representing the standard of the highest-quality travel poster production of the period.
What does condition A mean? Condition A denotes excellent condition — the highest standard in the grading system used for vintage posters, indicating that the impression is in outstanding state of preservation with no significant defects, losses, or restoration.
What does backed on linen mean? Linen backing is a standard and widely accepted conservation practice for vintage posters, in which the poster is mounted onto a linen support to ensure its long-term structural integrity, facilitate display and handling, and protect the paper from further deterioration. Linen-backed posters are the standard presentation format for vintage travel posters in major collections and at specialist auction houses worldwide.
What are the dimensions of the piece? 70 × 50 cm (27 1/2 × 19 1/2 in)
Is the work framed? No. The poster is presented unframed.
What makes this poster a compelling acquisition? The Abbazia poster after M. Romoli represents a rare convergence of exceptional subject matter — one of the most evocative and historically resonant destinations in the history of European travel culture — outstanding print quality from one of Europe's most celebrated printing houses, and a state of preservation — condition A, backed on linen — that makes this a fully displayable and museum-quality acquisition for serious collectors of vintage travel and promotional graphic art.
Is this artwork a good investment? Vintage travel posters depicting celebrated European resort destinations — particularly those printed by prestigious printing houses in excellent condition — are among the most consistently sought-after works in the vintage poster market. Abbazia, as one of the most historically resonant and visually evocative destinations in the history of European leisure culture, represents a subject of enduring and broad collector appeal. This example, in condition A and backed on linen, represents a particularly compelling acquisition opportunity within this category.
Is worldwide shipping available? Absolutely. We offer secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance.
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