It may be fairly stated that the direct cause of the artistic poster in France was the illustrated book. The illustrated book, issued in weekly or monthly numbers, has always appealed keenly to the French, and it is usual to give the first number for nothing to all who care to ask for it. The illustrators of these books were very frequently induced by the publishers of them to do a poster advertising the edition of the works they had illustrated. Sometimes one of the illustrations in the book was merely enlarged and lithographed, but more generally the artist made a special design. Perhaps, at the time, the most widely known among French producers of the _affiche illustre_ was Gavarni. The vogue for the works of this eminent illustrator and satirist is perhaps not so great as it was twenty years ago. At all events, the value of his works is not nearly so great as it was then, and it has become usual to talk of him in a manner which is patronizing rather than genuinely appreciative. It may be that his [Illustration: 0034] savage and grotesque point of view discounts his merits as an artist. His power and originality, however, few will deny. Among the posters which he designed, one of the most characteristic is the "Oeuvres Choisis." The original is extremely rare, [Illustration: 0035] but a copy exists in a folio volume in the British Museum, in which one or two other posters by Gavarni will be found. For the "Almanach Imperial, 1846," by [Illustration: 0036] E. Marco de S. Hilaire, illustrated by Bertrand, a poster (which was, perhaps, an enlargement of the cover) exists. It is a very [Illustration: 0037] OUVRAGE COMPLET, a jingo affair, representing the French emperor standing on the globe with the imperial eagle of France at his feet. Of a little later date are several interesting posters by Grandville. Amongst them are "Les Metamorphoses du Jour" (of which a number [Illustration: 0038] of pigs in different costumes is the main feature), "Des Animaux," "Ma Tante," "Petit Misere," and "St. Helene." Of the two latter I need say nothing, since they are reproduced here, save that they are included in the collection of the British Museum. An illustrated poster very characteristic of [Illustration: 0039] its period, insomuch as it is intensely grotesque, is the "Voyage ou il vous plaira," by Tony Johannot. Its central figures are a monstrous dwarf holding a lantern, a crouching dragon, and an immense notice-board. An _affiche_ which is, perhaps, of [Illustration: 0040]