Archive of five advertising signs for Samarkand Ice Cream designed by Wana Derge, circa 1933

San Francisco: The Recorder Publishing Co, 1937. First Edition. Archive of five vintage advertising signs designed by noted Art Deco designer Wana Derge, circa 1933-1937. Signs intended for countertop or streetcar use, one with an unused cardboard display easel affixed to the verso. Included with the collection is a First Edition copy of Derge’s posthumously published color and design theory book, "Color, Form and Composition" (1966).

A collection of striking and vibrant serigraphs, designed by Derge specifically for the popular California ice cream manufacturer. Each of the signs feature Derge’s distinctive signature discreetly printed within (truncated) the primary color field.

Wiki and Wana Derge were a highly successful mother and daughter Art Deco design team based in the Bay Area in the 1930s and 1940s. Wana taught art at the College Women's Club and the City Club of San Francisco beginning in 1931, and continued teaching through her home studio in Berkeley until her death in 1964.

Examples of all five designs on offer here can be found in the holdings of the Oakland Museum of California, which holds 22 of the Derges’ signs for Samarkand. We have been unable to locate any other institutional holdings of Derge's Samarkand designs.

Signs: 21 x 11 inches. Very Good plus to Near Fine overall, with some light rubbing, edgewear, and some minute creasing at or near the extremities.

Book: Near Fine in a Very Good plus dust jacket. (Inventory #: 158130)