your printing is under controlEarly examples of outdoor advertising
Messages displayed in public spaces have a history much older than modern billboards. Rather than identifying a single “first advertisement”, we can study surviving examples.
Writing on walls
Archaeological evidence from Pompeii preserves painted electoral appeals. These show how public space was used to seek support.
Printed posters
The Library of Congress connects the development of the modern poster with nineteenth-century lithography. Its collections preserve advertisements for products and performances.
From history to design
Useful questions include who the audience was, where a message appeared and how quickly it could be read. The same questions can guide a banner or sign project.
Sources
Archaeological Park of Pompeii: pompeiisites.org. Library of Congress poster guide: https://guides.loc.gov/american-women-prints-photographs/advertising-and-propaganda/posters.