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VARIOUS ARTISTS
16
●
LES MAÎTRES DE L’AFFICHE. Group of 5 complete, bound volumes. 1896-1900.
Each volume approximately 15
1
/
2
x12
1
/
4
x
3
/
4
inches, 39
1
/
2
x31x2 cm. Chaix, Paris.
Condition varies, generally A / A-: light, scattered foxing throughout; some missing tissue guards, mostly in
Volume 1.
The
Maîtres de l’Affiche
[Masters of the Poster] were small format reproductions of what were,
ostensibly, the best and most famous posters from around Europe and America as selected by the
famous critic (and poster supporter) Roger Marx. They were printed by the Chaix publishing house
as a concession to the growing craze of poster collecting at the end of the 19th century. Each of the
plates is a full color lithograph printed on high quality paper. The series was published from 1896-
1900, during which time subscribers would receive four new plates each month. In all, there are 256
plates in the series, 240 of which depict posters and the other 16 are supplements, designed specifically
for subscribers. The appeal of the Maîtres was, and remains, their small, easy-to-collect format. These
are bound in the special bindings designed by Paul Berthon, which were offered to subscribers. It is
one of his most elegant designs and a desirable set. As these volumes are frequently broken up so the
individual plates can be sold, it has become rarer and rarer to find complete sets. Art Nouveau p. 32,
Arwas 79.
[35,000/50,000]