Featured Publisher's History (U to Z)

Vanity Fair: The historic first issue of Vanity Fair was published in London on November 7, 1868. Founded by Thomas Gibson Bowles, the purpose of this ambitious weekly publication was to expose contemporary vanities and those responsible for them. Each issue contained a full page, original colour lithographic portrayal of a popular sovereign, statesmen or man of the day, caricatured in the smooth and good-natured manner which became renowned as the 'Vanity Fair Style'. Working under the pseudonyms of 'Spy' and 'Ape', two artists in particular became notorious for their portrayals, although many other important artists, including Max Beerbohm, Tissot, 'Quiz', 'WH', and Sickert worked for the publication on a regular basis and contributed some of its greatest art.

The last issue of Vanity Fair was published in 1914. Through its forty-five year history, it produced the definitive caricatures of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. collectors of these fine, original prints have always been numerous. In recent years, prices for these fascinating caricatures have dramatically increased, particularly for the more desirable examples.

Verve: From1937 to 1960, "Verve" was responsible for promoting the avant-guarde in art than any other publication. Printed and published in Paris, the periodical contained important articles on and by important artists. More importantly, almost every issue contained at least one original print made specifically for the publication.

The most sought after issue of Verve, however, is the 1952 double number. Camus, Sartre and Giocometti contributed articles, and the list of prints supplied with this edition contains some of the most famous graphic works of the twentieth century. Within its pages are found Chagall's "Visions of Paris", Leger's "The Outing", Matisse's "The Sadness of the King", Miro's "The Dog Barking at the Moon", as well as full colour lithographs by Gromaire, Laurens, Giacometti, Bores and Masson. Altogether, this famous Verve issue was limited to an edition of two thousand.

Vervielfaltigende Kunst: During the early twentieth century leading art journals around the world published original etchings, lithographs and woodcuts on a regular basis. Some of the greatest prints from this vital era were commissioned and published by The Studio, in London, Pan, in Germany, The Print Connoisseur, in America and Vervielfaltigende Kunst, in Vienna.

Vervielfaltigende Kunst issued it first original etching in 1871. During the following sixty years it published masterworks by Austrian, German, Czech, Swiss, French, Dutch and English artists. More internationally focused and less conservative than most of its rival publishers, Vervielfaltigende Kunst became a spearhead for the vibrant experiments of Symbolist, Expressionist and Secessionist artists during the initial decades of the twentieth century. Also, its superb printing techniques were second to none. As a result, Vervielfaltigende Kunst is now regarded as a most vital fine art publisher of its day and idividual prints from this publication are eagerly sought after on the international market.

William Jardine & The Naturalist Library: One of the finest and most thorough studies of natural history in the nineteenth century fell under the direction of Sir William Jardine. As editor of the Naturalists Library, Jardine commissioned experts throughout Europe to write individual volumes on their fields of animal studies. Between 1833 and 1842 a total of forty superb volumes were published on fish, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. But perhaps the greatest accomplishment of this nine-year undertaking was that each book contained at least thirty splendid engravings by W. H. Lizars. These engravings -- some introducing newly discovered species, others portraying now extinct animals -- have for over a century and a half been considered to be among the finest pictorial representations of their kind. The engravings were always coloured by artists before publication.

William Home Lizars: An eminent Scottish engraver and painter of topographical views, decorative and historical subjects, the natural history engravings of W. H. Lizars rank among the finest of the early nineteenth century. Training at the Trustee's Academy of Edinburgh, William Home Lizars quickly gained a strong reputation for his graphic work in all fields. From 1820, however, he concentrated almost solely upon the field for which he is best remembered, natural history subjects. Whether his work is in the field of delicate miniature engravings, such as this example, or in his large plates for Audubon's Birds of America, his reputation as one of the finest naturalist engravers in the history of the art stands unchallenged.