Striking posters to buy at auction as ideal Christmas gifts

Understandably, much of the attention centres on the beautiful Art Deco travel posters but plenty of other periods and styles can make welcome gifts.

Here are five suggestions for posters on offer in the run-up to the festive period from five different auction houses.

Thank god

The world of entertainment memorabilia offers rich pickings for poster buyers to bid for. Shown above is an original 1977 poster issued to promote God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols.

This classic Jamie Reid design measures approximately 3ft 3in x 2ft 3in (99 x 69cm) and is estimated at £600-1000 in the Omega auction in Merseyside on November 30.

To bid for the God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols poster view the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com.

Mod Brit Fedden delight

Mary Fedden Portland Gallery exhibition poster 2010 - estimate £60-80 at Chiswick Auctions on November 30.

To buy an original work by Modern British art great Mary Fedden will set you back a decent amount. However, thanks to this poster on offer at west London saleroom Chiswick Auctions on November 30 you can bid for a ‘Fedden’ with an estimate of £60-80.

It has the added benefit of a provenance to Mary Fedden and her husband Julian Trevelyan and by descent, part of ‘selected works from Durham Wharf’, her studio.

The 79 x 59cm offset lithograph design promotes a Fedden exhibition at the Portland Gallery in London from May 27 to June 11, 2010.

View the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com to bid for the Mary Fedden Portland Gallery exhibition poster.

Tournament's home Swede home

Sweden 1958 FIFA World Cup official tournament advertising poster - estimate at £1500-2000 at Graham Budd on December 1-2.

The London auction run by sports specialist Graham Budd on December 1-2 includes this Sweden 1958 FIFA World Cup official tournament advertising poster estimated at £1500-2000.

This 70 x 50cm design, designed by Beka, published by Ervaco Reklam/Dalhbergs, was used to promote the tournament in and around the host cities. It is printed with SVERIGE 8-29 JUNI 1958 COUPE JULES RIMET FOTBOLL, with official logo and a stylised footballer with a ball.

View the catalogue entry for this Sweden 1958 FIFA World Cup official tournament advertising poster on thesaleroom.com.

PM calling

Second World War Winston Churchill poster - estimate £800-1200 at Bonhams on December 1.

For a poster with a difference try this rare Winston Churchill design from the Second World War on offer at Bonhams on December 1, estimated at £800-1200.

This 'Message from the Prime Minister', a lithographed wartime poster appealing for the public to buy National War Bonds, incorporates a facsimile of a letter from Churchill on Downing Street headed notepaper, on an orange background, with a portrait of the Prime Minister upper right.

Measuring 20 x 15in (51 x 38cm), it was issued by the National Savings Committee with the aim of raising funds for the war effort, the text for which had appeared in newspapers on September 30, 1940.

View the catalogue entry for the Winston Churchill 1940 National War Bonds poster on thesaleroom.com.

Cult classic

Barbarella film poster - estimate £1000-1500 at the Prop Store auction on December 8-9.

Film posters are of course a hugely popular option for collectors – or for a terrific present. Estimated at £1000-1500, this striking 76cm x 1.02m design for cult classic Barbarella is available at the Prop Store auction on December 8-9.

In arguably the most famous role of her career, Jane Fonda starred in Roger Vadim's, sci-fi fantasy. Based on the hugely popular French comic strip by Jean-Claude Forest, the film is considered one of the 1960s quintessential cult movies. With its stylish and colourful design by Renato Fratini and Robin Ray the British Quad poster on offer features country unique artwork not seen on any other paper for the title.

View the catalogue entry on thesaleroom.com to bid for the Barbarella film poster.