Ignite Your Interiors: Explore the World with Vintage Cartography

Unveiling a New Chapter: Vintage Cartography in Barcelona

To celebrate the launch of our Europe Flagship Gallery in Barcelona's vibrant Art Route, a stone's throw from the iconic Museo Picasso and MOCO Museums, we're enriching our collection with exquisite licensed vintage posters and fine art prints featuring captivating historical world maps.

Our latest gem is the "Plano Monumental de Barcelona, c. 1917." This meticulously detailed, fully authorised artwork, originally commissioned by the "Sociedad de Atracción de Forasteros," offers a fascinating glimpse into Barcelona's burgeoning cityscape.

Spanish speakers will be chuckling at the name of the organisation created to bring foreigners to the area, as foraster0 is, quite literally, an old-fashioned and ever-so-slightly derogatory term for an outsider. 

Pro Tip for Design Enthusiasts: This map predates the development of upmarket neighbourhoods like Eixample, meticulously planned by renowned architect Ildefons Cerdà in the 1850s. Keen observers will appreciate the opportunity to envision Barcelona's evolution from the original site of the ancient, mediaeval city, at the turn of the century highlighting the new, architecturally significant buildings that would confirm Barcelona’s iconic status as a city of exceptional beauty and style in the run up to the Expo of 1929. 

Sweeping to the other side of the globe, we have a captivating new addition: a fine art print featuring an exclusive excerpt from legendary cartographer Max Gill's "Ceylon Tea Map" (From: A Great Industry – Where Our Tea Comes From, 1937).

Leslie MacDonald Gill, or Max Gill as he's fondly known, was a pioneering British artist who left an indelible mark on the world of graphic design, cartography, and architecture. His early achievements include the iconic London Underground map, imbued with his signature playful style. In 1918 he designed the standard upper-case lettering used on headstones and war memorials by the Imperial War Graves Commission. His alphabet and regimental badge designs are still used on the familiar standard military headstones today. 

But it was thanks to his distinctive decorative maps that established a particular style that continues to influence artist-mapmakers today. This can clearly be seen in the detailed beauty of the maps that form part of our Historic Maps collection, and they are particularly special to us here at Stick No Bills.

 Our CEO Meg Gage Williams first bought a Max Gill at an auction while living in the jungle of southern Sri Lanka, tramping through the forest to make sure she didn’t lose her connection to Christie’s. Today, the woman on the other end of the phone, Irene Orgaz Garcia, is our Chief Curator. She had already met Meg and Phil in Sri Lanka and had spoken to them about their burgeoning vintage poster business so when she was tasked with a new auction that featured Sri Lanka, Irene knew exactly who to call. 

We take immense pride in collaborating with the Max Gill estate to ensure his artistic heritage thrives. Our remastered works utilise cutting-edge printing technologies, inks, and paper, guaranteeing longevity for generations to come.

Historical maps transcend geographical representation. They unlock a world of cultural insights and ignite the imagination. Whether displayed individually or grouped, these exquisite pieces can become the focal point of your luxurious interior design project as wall art.

You can find these beautiful art prints on our gallery wall in Barcelona, Galle, Mallorca, or Dubai; or buy the beautiful posters online. Whether you're looking for a minimalist scandinavian design or posters of different cities, come on in and get inspired today!