LITOGRAFIA ORIGINALE

DI E.GRASSET

A NEW LIFE OF NAPOLEON

MAGNIFICENTLY ILLUSTRATED

LES MAITRES DE L'AFFICHE PL. 126

IMPRIMERIE CHAIX

TIMBRO A SECCO IN BASSO A DX (LES MAITRES DE L'AFFICHE)

CM 28,5 X 39

EXCELLENT CONDITIONS

Les Maîtres de l’affiche

A new life of Napoleon

chromolithographie, planche : 126

imprimerie Chaix

Format de la feuille  

38,7 cm x 27,6 cm (environ)

Coins rognés et empoussièrage.

La photo reflète l’état de la gravure.

Afin de mieux apprécier la gravure en HD, 

cliquer ICI

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Les Maîtres de l'affiche

 est une publication illustrée mensuelle française,

 éditée entre décembre 1895 et novembre 1900.

Son titre complet est Les Maîtres de l'affiche :

 publication mensuelle contenant la reproduction

 des plus belles affiches illustrées des grands artistes,

 français et étrangers, éditée par L'Imprimerie Chaix, Paris.

 L'idée de départ vient de Jules Chéret, alors directeur artistique de Chaix,

 une imprimerie située au 20 rue Bergère.

Chaque numéro comprend quatre affiches reproduites

 au format cloche et en chromolithographie. 

Chaque tirage comprend un timbre à sec authentification. 

Il y eut en tout cinq volumes, jusqu'en janvier 1901, 

soit un total de 256 affiches pour 97 artistes. 

Chaque volume était accompagné de deux dessins spécialement 

conçus par un artiste et reproduits selon le procédé chromolithographie.

Maitres de L'Affiche - Year 1896
Size: 11 3/8 x 15 3/4 inches - Original Lithographs

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. (28,5 cm x 39 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.
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)