AUBREY BEARDSLEY (1872-1898) THE SAVOY. 1896 9 3/8x7 1/4 inches. C. F. Kell, London. Condition A-: minor foxing in image. Framed. Leonard Smithers, a libertine, bookdealer and publisher of erotica whom Oscar Wilde once referred to as "the most learned erotomaniac in Europe," founded the magazine Savoy in 1896. He intended to create a titillating and provocative publication. Smithers employed Beardsley, who had recently lost his position at the Yellow Book due to intense criticism of his mores, as his principle illustrator. Needless to say, in Victorian England such a publication did not last long and only eight issues were published. Not only did Beardsley design all the covers and numerous illustrations for the articles (among the contributors were G. B. Shaw, Max Beerbohm and W. B. Yeats), but he also contributed stories himself, including an erotic unfinished work entitled Under the Hill. After the demise of the magazine, Smithers offered all the back copies bound into three volumes. The image on the poster was Beardsley's design for the cover of the last issue. Beardsley referred to the image as a "posterette" and he added several colors to what was originally a black and white image.
