Full size (printed in 1894, version with text) sold for $ 32,200 US,
Poster Auctions International, N.Y. Lot 522, Nov. 1997.
"Victor Joze's (lautrec's friend) Babylone d'Allemagne is
a series of satirical accounts of corruption and debauchery in Germany.
It's title (not shown in this version before text) is an insulting
reference to Berlin (the German Babylon)" (San Diego Museum
of Art)
"Lautrec's poster focused the spectator's attention an the
hindquarters of four horses, the largest of which was also being
closely observed by a caricature of the Kaiser standing in a guardbox.
The implications of this, along with the book's title, (not shown
in this version) provoked a protest from the German ambassador to
France and nearly caused an international incident...Lautrec refused
to stop distribution of the poster, and as he had paid for it, the
publisher was not able to stop the distribution himself. (Thereafter),
according to art dealer Edmond Sagot, the value of Henry's work
quadrupled"(Frey, p.398)
During the 1960s the renowned French printer, Mourlot Freres, printed
this superb series "Les Affiches de Toulouse-Lautrec"
for collectors. They are reduced lithographic versions of Lautrec's
most famous works. They are truly the most beautiful printing we
have been able to find in this size format.
As vintage printings of Lautrec's work, in all formats, reach high
prices, this mid-century printing offers a superb alternative at
a reasonable price that will only appreciate in value.
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