William Henry Bradley (American, 1868-1962) - Lot 156

William Henry Bradley (American, 1868-1962) The Chap-Book (The Poet and his Muse). Poster. 1895. Letterpress print. 314x495mm. Das frühe Plakat155. Very fine proof on buff vellum, doubled on strong white vellum and canvas-backed. Full margins. The Chap-Book was a small American literary magazine published between 1894 and 1898. Initially conceived as a simple advertising tool for the publications of its two partners, Harvard students Stone and Kimball, who created their publishing house for this purpose, it soon became a major literary and artistic publication, attracting the works of writers and artists from all over the world. The Chap-Book was published twice a month. Its last issue appeared on July 1, 1898. After that, the magazine merged with The Dial. Chicago artist Will H. Bradley created seven literary posters for Stone and Kimball's magazine. He also designed some of their works. His Les Jumeaux poster, for the May 1894 issue of The Chap-Book, is considered the first American Art Nouveau poster. Our poster, published in January 1895, follows closely on its heels.