Some of the prettiest limited
editions to hit the collector's market have come from The S2 Art Group.
The S2 Art Group is a diversified
publisher and distributor of fine art. In addition to their fine-art collections
of signed and numbered, limited-edition lithographs, they are working
with the American Film Institute (AFI) to reproduce the AFI top 100 movie
posters of all times. They call this line of movie art "Art of the
Movies."
This collection of classic
movie posters is recreated as genuine fine-art, limited-edition lithographs.
These posters are printed
using a "low-tech" historical lithographic process on extremely
rare antique presses. These rare 19th century presses are the same ones
that created "vintage" posters over 100 years ago. The impressions
are made one color at a time and must be pulled in perfect registration.
They are hand-numbered.
S2 posters are issued in
the 22" x 28" card, 27" x 41" one sheet and 41"
x 81" three sheet sizes.
Because many of the posters
they reproduce are from the early days of film, their lithographic style
gives them the impression of being original movie posters.
S2 posters are easily recognized
by their "embossed" label across the bottom. Many of the posters
carry an embossed "AFI" on one side and an "S2" on
the other.
By definition, the posters
issued by S2 are not considered "legitimate movie art" because
they are not released by movie studios in conjunction with the release
of a film and they are released for sale to the public.
However, because their
posters are printed using antique presses to recreate the early lithographic
style of posters, and because they are released as a limited edition and
are numbered, even many hard line collectors accept these beautiful posters
as "collectible."
Now
there are smaller and cheaper versions of the S2 Art Group posters on
the market. These are on cheaper paper and are also the commercial size,
so these are not a problem to the hobby.
