Imprenta Nueva Balear: Palma Poster Gallery

Fancy posters in the design of the 50s and 60s are hanging from the lofty ceiling, reminiscent of the golden era of travel and advertising. Inviting you to fly to Paris with PanAm, to Nice with Lufthansa, or to Rio with Braniff. But maybe even more imposing are the heavy old Frankenthal and Heidelberg printing presses in the work space below. A visit at Imprenta Nueva Balear, the oldest printing house on Mallorca.

The Art of Printing

“We just didn’t want to hide our historical and cultural heritage. But instead make our craft more visible,” Belén Aguiló Mora explains. And so, two years ago, she and her brother Roberto decided to open their workshop to the public. The siblings are the fourth generation to run Imprenta Nueva Balear which their great-grandfather founded in 1913.

Original Posters from Mallorca

At a time when there was little communication between Mallorca’s villages other than by word of mouth, posters became a popular way of advertising. A swimming contest, a concert, maybe, or a new drink, things like that. And Imprenta Nueva Balear had the means and the designers to produce them. Their reprints of original historic posters tell vivid stories of island life in the first half of the 20th century.

Vintage Inspired Motifs

The cooperation with poster art specialist Stick No Bills finally turned the traditional print shop into a unique gallery. Particularly the iconic Mallorca motifs of contemporary Danish illustrator Mads Berg have long been popular beyond the island. The lady in green on the platform of the Sóller train, for example, or the moustached cyclist climbing the road from Sa Calobra. Many posters also come postcard-sized, for those who love to send old-school greetings to friends back home.

From Gutenberg to Digital Age

Next to posters the main focus of Imprenta Nueva Balear is still on everyday print products. From events to private invitations, brochures, flyers or business cards. Professional advice on questions of design and print included. Combining traditional printing techniques with the most modern digital equipment, you can watch them using the old machines until this day.