Perhaps because I started as a poster collector, and possibly because I have always loved giving people the perfect gift, when a client buys a poster and feels that it is just right for them, I am inordinately pleased. In the five years I have had the gallery, I have occasionally received letters from people thoughtful enough to share with me precisely what motivated them to buy (or search for) those particular posters.

Shortly after opening the gallery I was fortunate enough to acquire – on consignment – a large collection of posters from a gentleman who had lovingly acquired them over a period of decades. While many had a nautical theme, there was among the 100 or so posters, a selection of posters from the Sarajevo Winter Olympics.

These were sold to a man, living in Europe, who wrote me the following note: “Thanks for organising the shipping to France. I am delighted to have found these posters. In 1999/2000 I was heading the legal secretariat at an international human rights tribunal in Sarajevo, and I have extremely fond memories of the city. In a trendy bar near the old Olympic stadium, the owner had put up a more or less complete collection of these posters on the walls. I just loved them but, despite spending more than a year in Sarajevo, I was never able to find any to buy. My colleagues at the tribunal even contacted the artist, Mr Mujezinovic, who at the time lived in Slovenia, to get me a poster as a farewell gift, but were told that he didn’t have any and didn’t know where to find them. At a later visit to Sarajevo, I found one (of a ski jumper) in an old framing shop in the centre. I have tried ever since to get hold of more of them, but I have realised that they are very rare and almost impossible to find. So please tell the Dutch diplomat that, still, the posters have found a home where they will be cherished.”

Another Sarajevo poster, from the same source, went to Italy, and to a woman who wrote: “Let’s go back to our Cellist (there is even a good book so named: the cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway, it’s based on a real story in Sarajevo during wartime, and even in the movie: Welcome to Sarajevo of Michael Winterbottom there is in the end the cellist… and I saw that poster in center of Sarajevo in a small shop of pictures and paintings…)… but as we were saying… ah yes! I’d like to buy that poster.”

For a short video on the cellist of Sarajevo – Vedran Smailovic – and his bravery and his 22 day performance click here.

And one of my favourite thank you notes, from a charming Australian client who was looking for the PERFECT gift for his love:

 Kia Ora, Bonjour Karen,
It landed on Friday afternoon in perfect condition, it looks even better in real life then it seemed online. Once again I would like to pass on my thanks & compliments on fantastic service & can say that I will for definitely be back for more & will gladly pass on your site to anyone who asks where it was purchased from.
Kapi, Merci & have a great day from sunny Melbourne