This series of original lithographic reproductions of posters crowned the affichomanie at the end of the 19th century. Subscribers to the series received four plates each month for five years, plus 16 supplements. “At the time posters posed a problem which, moreover, has still not been solved: how to keep and enjoy a collection consisting of very large prints which one has to preserve rolled or flat in some cabinet... [This book] provided a reduction of the most valued and consequently the most widely known posters, thus enabling collectors and other interested people to examine quickly and easily the main works of the current advertising production,” wrote Allan Weill. Weill notes that under this subscription plan, one month's offering (4 prints) could be had at the same price as an original poster by Lautrec, Mucha, or the other greats of the poster pantheon: “This is not at all surprising since the posters were printed in great quantities on ordinary paper and, to boot, the one-time art and plate costs were assumed by the company whose product it advertised; the dealers paid printers only for the overrun they wished to acquire. Hence, we must consider it normal that Les Maitres de l’Affiche, specially produced by means of lithography on quality paper, was offered for sale at the price of an original poster. The people did not perceive these two types of products as being in competition. They were infatuated with small prints and with this kind of compilation” (Maitres/Images Graphique edition, p. 4 & 5). This lot includes five bound volumes.
literature: Maitres; PAI-LXXV, 505