The Ricordi printing firm was established in Milan in 1808 as a publisher of classical and opera music sheet. In the late 19th century, the founder's son, Giulio Ricordi, helmed the company and added advertising posters to their repertoire. Ricordi quickly became the leading lithographer in Italy. 

Published in 1914, the rare commemorative Ricordi Portfolio consisted of 70 small lithographic plates of Ricordi's greatest posters printed between 1895 and 1914. The portfolio featured the work of artists such as Cappiello, Hohenstein, Dudovitch, Metlicovitz, Mataloni, Terzi, Villa and many more.

Printed with the same meticulous care and quality as the famous "Les Maitres de L'Affiche" series created by Jules Cheret in Paris, the Ricordi Portfolio celebrated the rise of the poster which in Italy was almost single-handedly accomplished by Ricordi.  

The set was sold commercially in Italy, England, Germany, France and the United States. Many of the images in the series are rare and can only be found today in no other format.