Lot 10: GUS BOFA (GUSTAVE BLANCHOT) (1883-1968) CHAUSSURES CAOUTCHOUC / MARQUE "AU COQ."

Circa 1907.

531/4x373/4 inches.

Condition A. Framed.

Gus Bofa was one of the most prolific illustrators working between the wars. He became director of Le Rire magazine in 1909 and took over Sourire in 1912, as well as working for countless other magazines. He also found time to take on advertising jobs, and around 1910 even published a self- promotional booklet, "l'Affiche Gus Bofa", in which this poster is reproduced. It is actually only the top half of a two-sheet billboard, which explains why Das Fruhe Plakat lists the poster as being anonymously designed. Apparently, the German museums whose collections were used to compile that catalogue also only have the top, unsigned part of the poster. The bottom sheet, where the artist's signature can be found, shows these two men reflected in a large puddle in the street. The two men are not, in fact, just strollers. They are King Leopold of Belgium and Edward VII, King of England, two renowned pillars of the crazy nights of the Belle Epoque. This top half of the poster functions perfectly well on its own. Rare. L'Affiche Gus Bofa, color plate, San Millan p. 103, DFP II 468 (with wrong attribution).