Original Maxfield Parrish Poster- Century Magazine-1897 Maitres de l'Affiche

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Original Lithographic Poster by Maxfield Parrish- The Century Magazine -Midsummer Holiday Number.August, 1897, signed in plate by Maxfield Parrish, has Les Maitres de l'Affiche blind embossed stamp lower right (designed by Jules Cheret); with Les Maitres de l'Affiche P.L. 123 Imprimerie Chaix (Encres Lorilleux& Cie) printed lower left. Imp. Thomas & Wylie Lithographic Co. under left in print (they printed the print). Sorry for the lousy pictures-the reflective glass and sunlight made taking pictures very difficult. This poster is one of the most collected and desirable posters from the series. Ask any questions & look at pictures. This is an original lithographic poster printed in 1897. 11 1/8" x 15 1/2" approx in new archival matted materials, glass and distressed frame.. Framed it measures approx 23" x 18". Almost 120 years old in excellent condition. This poster was included in the number one most expensive sale from Abebooks in 2014-see below. US shipping is FREE with BUY IT NOW( plus full insurance and tracking.) Shipping cost will be added if seller accepts a buyer's offer, NO EXCEPTIONS. Sorry, NO INTERNATIONAL SALE OR SHIPPING1. Les Maîtres de L'Affiche (5 vols) - $43,450This translates as Masters of the Poster, which was a monthly illustrated French publication published between December 1895 and November 1900. The magazine, produced under the leadership of Jules Cheret, contained reproductions of the best Art Nouveau posters of the era from both French and international artists. This is a five-volume collection featuring 256 posters from 97 artists.The "Les Maitres de l'Affiche" series was offered as a subscription series to collectors.Every month for 60 months, from December 1895 through November 1900, subscribers received by mail, 4 loose sheets (Maitres) with a cover sheet. It was sold in Paris for 2.50 francs for one month's subscription, (4 Maitres) and for 27 francs for 12 months (48 maitres), plus special (bonus) plates. Maitre's were never issued in a book form, but a binding of the 12 months Maitres was offered to subscribers, at the end of the year, with a beautiful hardcover design by Paul Berthon for 8 Francs.The "Maitres de l'Affiche," were issued as separate numbered sheets, referred to as "plates" (PL). They were numbered, with the printers name "Imprimerie Chaix," in the margin at the bottom left hand corner, "PL.1" to "PL.240." In the margin at the bottom right hand corner of each, is a blind embossed stamp from a design of Cheret's.Each overall plate measures approximately 11 3/8 in. x 15 3/4 inches. (29 cm x 40 cm).In addition to the 240 posters, Special plates (or bonus plates) were issued to subscribers.There were a total of 16 Special plates, which were sent over the five years, each December, each June, and March and September of the final three years.These were not posters, but unique original lithographs done exclusively for the "Maitres de l'Affiche" series.Most famous for his children's book illustrations, Parrish was nonetheless a "remarkable draughtsman, who energetically and successfully mixed fantasy and reality to create a luminous dreamworld that, for all its strangeness, is precisely rendered" (Parrish intro). He studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and then at the Drexel Institute under Howard Pyle. His posters were more illustrative and detailed than those of Edward Penfield and Will Bradley, and marked by what Charles Hiatt referred to as "curious individuality. Courtesy of Swann's auction.Jules Cheret was the artistic director of the "Imprimerie Chaix. "He dominated the series, with one in every four Maitres by him, the first in each monthly instalment, and 7 of the Special plates, a total of 67. With over 1000 poster designs to his credit, his large representation in the series is justified, although some critics have pointed out that, as the artistic director, he may have been biased towards selecting his own work."Of the other 96 artists represented in "Les Maitres de l'Affiche, some were pre-eminent painters and printmakers at various stages of their careers: Toulouse-Lautrec, Denis, Bonnard. Others were famous illustrators and cartoonists of the period, still well known to art collectors, including Forain, Caran d'Ache, Ibels, Boutet de Monvel, Leandre.But there were also all those whose names say 'poster,' the conquering pioneers of the new medium including, Cheret himself, Mucha, Steinlen, Beggarstaffs, Grasset, Penfield, Parrish, Bradley, hardy... the list could go on and on." (Appelbaum p.iii). From www.vasaribooks.com.Every buyer gets a MyStoreRewards invitation for cash back read more

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