100 Year Anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution in Posters
The twentieth century was shaped by several key global events. One of them – the 1917 October Revolution in Russia – led to the creation of a completely new social structure, government and system of beliefs. The events of the Russian Revolution have been described in many books and portrayed in films but very few documents that bear true witness to this era have managed to carry through the essence of the dramatic changes and immense struggle between the old and the new to today. Posters are one of the few documents that have survived as silent visual yet very vocal witnesses to the events that tore the country in half and led to the formation of the USSR (the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also known as the Soviet Union – Союз Советских Социалистических Республик or СССР). Historic memorabilia from that time is very rare as paper was scarce and, as such, these original posters from the period are highly collectable.
After the October Revolution in 1917, the Bolshevik government was faced with the task of swaying a largely illiterate population to its side in the resulting Russian Civil War and beyond. Posters proved to be an ideal medium to deliver their message using bold and striking designs with minimum text. The imagery clearly distinguished the ‘bad guys’ from the ‘good guys’ and instructed the people on what to do and how to fight the enemy. As the country established itself, poster art grew more sophisticated and the government further developed this means of propaganda art and the print runs increased. Due to this proven effectiveness, the Soviet Union became one of the few countries where artists 
were specifically trained as poster designers.
The unique combination of striking artwork, powerful imagery and important social history makes these posters of great interest to collectors. A growth in nostalgia and reconciliation with the country’s past is resulting in more demand for high-end posters from the Soviet Union’s early 1917-1939 period as well as the more affordable period from the 1960s to the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
A few of our original vintage Soviet posters will be displayed in our gallery from 25 October to 7 November for this centenary and all are available to view online at www.AntikBar.co.uk and at our gallery on request. Click on the images featured below for more information on this slideshow selection:
3rd anniversary of the Vseobuch Red Army military training for conscripts (1921)
October – Ten Days That Shook The World movie poster for the groundbreaking silent film by Sergei Eisenstein (Y. Ruklevsky, 1927)
Mikhail Frunze (1885-1925): Bolshevik leader during the 1917 Revolution and Red Army commander during the Russian Civil War (1920s)
Shock brigade of the world’s proletariat Proletarians of all countries, defend (G. Klutsis, 1930s)
Progress of collectivisation in Uzbekistan (Z. Ratem, 1931)
Let’s build a powerful Soviet airship “Klim Voroshilov” (A. Deineka, 1931)
Five year plan (Abramovich, 1932)
“There is nothing that the Bolsheviks can’t conquer” Stalin (P. Karachentsov, 1937)
Constitution of the USSR (El Lissitsky, 1937)
All Soviet people will vote for further strengthening of our glorious Red Army and Navy! (V. Stenberg, 1938)
They Wanted Peace / The Great Dawn movie poster (P. Finogin, 1938)
Movie poster for a film about Valery Chkalov (1904-1938): awarded hero pilot of the Soviet Union (1941)
Long live the XXVI anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution! We will win (M.A. Gordon, E.P. Efimov, 1943)
Collective farmers of Siberia! More bread to the Soviet country! (V. Klimashin, 1946)
Increase steel production to make our country stronger! 25.4 million tonnes of steel in 1950 (V. Klimashin, 1946)
Soviet warrior, be an excellent skier! (E. Maloletkov, 1953)
Sport in the USSR – Sport of millions! (I. Toidze, 1956)
Communists always ahead! (1956)
Live, work and fight like Lenin! (V. Suryaninov, 1958)
“…Everywhere and in everything the name of Lenin is with us…” V. Mayakovsky (I. Ippolitov, 1959)
Pravda “Lenin is with us, eternal and majestic, his thoughts, words and deeds spread through the galaxy” V. Mayakovsky (N. Dolgorukov, 1960s)
Printer’s proof for Pravda (V. Klimashin, 1960)
Glory to the Great October! (A. Antonchenko, 1960)
Every new record – new glory for our motherland! (D. Pyatkin, M. Strezhenov, 1960)
People and party are united! (V. Ivanov, 1961)
Forward with the party of Lenin! (K. Ivanov, 1961)
The people and the army are united! (L. Golovanov, 1961)
With the name of Lenin! (I. Solovyov, 1962)
Glory to the USSR! (M. Solovyov, 1964)
We are first in space Let’s be first in the chemical industry! (V. Koretsky, 1964)
Long live the socialist revolution! (B. Kalensky, 1966)
Time works for communism 1917-1967 (L. Levshunova, 1967)
The sport and youth of the country are uniquely united! (R. Suryaninov, 1968)
Riders Of The Revolution movie poster (A. Lemeshchenko, 1968)
The most human person (V. Ivanov, 1969)
“All education should aim to nurture communist morale in the youth” V.I. Lenin (V. Suryaninov, 1969)
Our ideological foundation is Marxism-Leninism Our goal is communism (E. Briskin, 1969)
Victory of communism is unavoidable (I. Kustov, 1971)
Victory of communism is unavoidable (I. Kustov, 1971)
…Revolution has a beginning, but revolution has no end! (V. Koretsky, 1972)
The Warsaw Pact is a dependable shield of socialism (A. Adashev, 1975)
“The teachings of Marx are ever powerful because they are right!” V.I. Lenin (E. Artsunyan, 1976)
To new achievements in the name of victorious communism! (I. Toidze, 1976)
Glory to Soviet science! XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the USSR (V. Viktorov, 1976)
RVS RevVoyenSoviets movie poster (A. Ulymov, 1977)
Steadily increase the efforts in the fight for stable peace! (D. Filatov, 1977)
Our socialist republic of Soviets will stand firm, like the torch of international socialism and as an example in front of the working masses (B. Reshetnikov, 1977)
1918 1978 You were born under a red flag in the troublesome year… (V. Viktorov, 1978)
Personal five year plan to mark the 110th anniversary of Lenin’s birth! (I. Kominarets, 1979)
23 February – Soviet Red Army and Navy day (V. Fekliev, 1984)
The young will carry on the tradition! 50th anniversary of the Stakhanovite movement (Y. Poltoran, 1984)
In addition to over 500 Soviet posters, we also stock a selection of historical newspapers, constructivist magazines and books including:
ROSTA: Lenin’s letter (1919)
Booklet: Proletariat leader of peasants (1925)
Intourist travel brochure: Visit the USSR (1930s)
Magazine: USSR in Construction (one of a series, 1930)
Magazine: Za Rulem (back cover Stenberg Brothers, 1931)
Pravda newspaper (G. Klutsis, 1933)
Izvestia newspaper (1937)
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Twitter feature by @HOCommunism
Event listed by Russian Art + Culture
Event listed by LAPADA
A few of our Soviet posters on display at Bentley & Skinner‘s “Faberge and the Russian Revolution” exhibition, open 7-11 November:
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Visit our website at www.AntikBar.co.uk to view all our original vintage posters from around the world (cinema, travel, advertising, sport, war, propaganda), available online with worldwide delivery, or visit us at our gallery:
AntikBar – Original Vintage Posters
404 King’s Road, London SW10 0LJ
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AntikBar is a Member of the International Vintage Poster Dealers’ Association (IVPDA), the London Art Deco Society (LADS) and The Association of Art and Antiques Dealers (LAPADA).
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