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"The Beatles" (Stern set)"

by Richard Avedon - ORIGINAL 1967 - PPP printers

STERN Magazine posters, each image measures 19" x 27"

MORE HISTORY: Many people ask about the history of when and where these posters were printed. In 1967 The Beatles company "Nems" contracted Richard Avedon to create the design and then gave the distribution rights to different outlets in different countries. The Publications that would handle the distribution were: in the USA "LOOK" magazine where you could order your set with a pullout tab, and send away for your set to come in the mail for $1.50. In England it was the Daily Express Newspaper that handled distribution. In Europe it was "Stern" magazine that distributed the posters and they were sold at Newsstands in special presentation boxes. It has recently become known  that there was Japanese printing as well. All 4 printings were simultaneous in 1967 and there were 4 different printers, one from each country that printed the posters for their respective Publication. The Stern and Daily Express posters were similar in size measuring approx 19" x 27" while the Look version was slightly bigger at 22" x 31". The banner was the same size 14" x 40" in all 3 countries. This is the Stern printing and they are the 1967 printing, not a reprint. but existing posters  found .  

Avedon Beatles

Vintage Poster : Lithograph mounted on linen - call Art Gallery for pricing

There are no subsequent or later printings that would be considered legitimate, only the 1967 printing is considered the authentic original. The only printing that will go up in value, is the 1st printing, anything else is not worth more than the decorative face value. Many people ask how many were printed …that is not yet known, but one has to assume with the popularity of the Beatles at the height of their fame in 1967, and the ad campaign with John Lennon on the cover of 'Look" magazine, they must have printed 10's of thousands. This is not as important as the question of, "how many have survived". People put them up on the walls with scotch tape and many just got thrown away. Who would have thought they would become an important art statement and represented in "Pop Art" museum shows and "1960's" museum shows and "Rock and Roll" museum shows.

The STERN set is sold as a complete set of 5 posters or can be sold as 4 color with or without the black and white banner included. The poster set is sold "individually" mounted on linen*. They are included in POP ART shows and Museums all over the world.

Linen-backing: All the posters have been professionally linen-backed by Museum Trained professionals who mount the posters on fine linen and canson paper. This "base" acts as a support for framing the posters without having to touch any part of the poster in the process. The Art of Linen-backing also preserves the posters against potential tearing and folding and PH friendly glues act to neutralize the effects of oxidation on paper (yellowing). This is what is done with posters of value, and being over 40 years old, the Beatles posters fall in to the category or Antique posters that need preserving.

An Example of how we have framed them, them...Matting and a double frame, the inner frame color different on each one to bring out a distictive color in each piece, while working together as a set.

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