HARPERS CHRISTMAS 1895

Harper’s Christmas poster for Harper’s Monthly Magazine is a three color lithograph published by Harper & Brothers , New York., 1895. Father Christmas is dancing with his lovely companion at the holiday festival with yellow, red and blue colors . A rare and colorful 1895 original lithograph poster ,the largest in the Harper’s series, signed and dated in the matrix and in good condition. There is a horizontal pressed crease, the bottom edge is a little rough and there is a small spot missing just above the woman’s right hand. In 1998 it was reproduced in red and black for the cover of the first issue of The Poster, a London based periodical published from 1898 to 1900. The Poster’s publisher Will Clemens wrote “The Christmas poster for Harper’s Weekly , drawn by Edward Penfield has attracted unusual attention. Mr. Penfield’s productions have received favorable notice in Paris. I am glad to see American talent this recognized abroad. ” (Penfield had used the same figure of St. Nick for a December 1894 Harper’s Weekly cover.)

American artist Edward Penfield ( 1866 – 1925)  was an illustrator  during the  “Golden Age of American Illustration” and he is considered the father of the American poster. His work has been included in almost every major book on American Illustration or the history of the poster. He is also a major figure in the evolution of graphic design.  From 1894 to 1899 the artist Edward Penfield was art director for America’s premier 19th century news publication Harper’s Weekly. Influenced by French advertising posters Penfield designed a poster each month introducing the “art of the people” to the American public.