"H.W. Johns' Miniature Color Chart for Schools & Families" (1890) - Classic Vintage Poster

A wonderfully instructive and visually delightful example of late Victorian American colour theory educational advertising art, reproduced to capture the charm of this H.W. Johns Manufacturing Co. miniature colour chart. This glossy printed vintage educational poster — copyright 1890 by H.W. Johns — presented primary, secondary, and tertiary colour relationships for schools and families while promoting the company's liquid paints and colours.

• Paper: 200 GSM+
• Finish: Gloss
• Sizes: A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0, 20×30", 24×36", 30×40"
• Shipping: Free — rolled in protective cardboard tube

Published in 1890 by the H.W. Johns Manufacturing Co. — with offices in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and London — this delightful educational colour chart combined genuine colour theory instruction with clever product promotion. The chart explains primary colours (blue, red, yellow), secondary colours (violet, green, orange), and tertiary colours (russet, citrine, olive), centred on a six-pointed star showing the Harmony of Colors, and crowned with a rainbow demonstrating the Colors of the Rainbow. It is a beautiful example of how Victorian commercial art doubled as genuinely useful educational material. H.W. Johns later merged to become Johns-Manville Corporation.

Today, Victorian educational colour theory charts are charming and collectible pieces of 19th century American design and printing history. This reproduction is perfect for lovers of colour theory, Victorian graphic design, art education history, or anyone who simply appreciates the beauty of 19th century chromolithographic printing. It makes an endlessly fascinating display piece for studios, classrooms, and homes.

Printed with a glossy finish on durable 200 GSM paper, this reproduction captures the fine chromolithographic colour of authentic 1890 H.W. Johns Manufacturing Co. educational colour chart art.

Sources for historical context:

• Library of Congress – H.W. Johns Manufacturing Co. advertising and colour chart archive, 1890
• Smithsonian Institution – Late Victorian American commercial chromolithography and colour theory history
• Victoria and Albert Museum – 19th century colour theory educational print collection

Disclaimer: While we do our best to upscale each poster to suit the different sizes, some may have small imperfections such as creases or blurred small script. This is normal from old posters that have been scanned or remade over time. We do our best and we are only human after all.