?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
GASTON NOURY (1866-?) LE PERE DIDIER / AFFICHES ET BOUQUINS. 26x17 inches. Bourgerie & Cie., St. Denis. Condition B+: repaired tears and pinholes in margins; vertical folds. One of the most enduring images of Paris are the little book stands that are set up along the banks of the Seine. While today the bouquinistes purvey nothing more than shabby second hand books, tourist knick-knacks and poor quality reproductions, for many years they were the source of some of Paris' finest antiquing. At the turn-of-the-century it was possible to find treasures dans le boites (at the boxes), many of which were actually specialized dealers. During those years, which were the high-water mark of the poster craze in Paris, le Pere Didier followed the lead of some of the major galleries and commissioned Gaston Noury to design a poster promoting his poster and book stand. Born in Le Havre, Normandy, Noury was an illustrator who settled in Paris around 1889. With only a few posters to his name it seems he was closely connected to the affichomanie of the period. In addition to this image he also designed a poster promoting another poster dealer, Arnould, and one for the 3rd exposition of the Salon des Cent. Very little is heard from him after the end of the 1890s. In this poster, superbly executed in the soft style of pastel drawing, Didier is presented exuding respectability as he peddles his goods to elegant ladies out for a stroll in Paris. His enviable location is such that Notre Dame is prominently visible, and he was located only a five minute walk from Sagot's gallery, which then was situated on the rue Guenegaud. Given the size of his stall we can easily see why he required such a small format for this design. One of the most charming, and rarest documents of the postermania era. L'Affichomanie 13.
