Vogue: Numero de Liberation
Paris (printed in Vannes): Vogue, January 1945. First edition. Soft cover. 162p, hundreds of photos, drawings, and ads, many in full or two colors. Covers scrappy and detached, as shown. Light marginal dampstaining to opening pages, else internally overall good and complete. Fair. Item #31092
Haute couture, perfumes, and jewelry swirl confidently and insouciantly through these pages, which celebrate the imminent end of World War II and the liberation of France. Illustrations and photos by Christian Berard (including the cover), Cecil Beaton, Lee Miller, Carmel Garcia Benito, Picasso (a previously unpublished portrait drawing of the late Max Jacob), and more. Articles on "Les Anglais Nos Amis," cultural luminaries in Paris (including a photo of Colette at her window), Russia today, clandestine publishing, the season's fashion trends, etc. An article on French fabrics is illustrated with an 8-page insert of designs from various firms (printed on paper, not actual swatches). Fabulous ads from Molyneux, Chanel, Worth, Schiaparelli (Vertes illustration), Paquin, Guerin, Cartier, Patou, and many many more. The New Look isn't here yet, but there's plenty of fit and furl.
This was the first issue of Vogue since June 1940. De Brunhoff notes that conditions still don't allow for monthly publication, so this is a special number, out of series. He asks former subscribers to update their addresses, since the Nazis confiscated Vogue's subscription lists and addressograph plates in 1940, presumably to use for a fashion magazine of their own.
Price: $75.00