Boutillier Parisian Printer Labels

Boutillier was a Parisian printer which specialized in the printing of hotel labels, much as Richter in Italy. By the early 1900s Boutillier had developed a distinctive house style: a typical label of the time was elliptical with the name of the hotel rendered in tasteful Art Nouveau lettering, often combined with a decorative border printed in gold ink. Such designs were produced for some of the most famous French hotels of their day and the best of them are amazing examples of graphic design. By 1911, labels were being marked "Pap Imp des Hôtels, A.Boutillier". From the trade name used by the printer (roughly translatable as Paper-supplier and Printer to Hotels). Other marks of the 1910s included "Imp. A.Boutillier" and "Imp. A.Boutillier 1, rue du 29 Juillet, Paris". But many labels recognizably printed by Boutillier were unmarked (although, occasionally, unmarked labels are found with a hand-written note identifying the printer). During the First World War, the original owner sold (or lost control over-) the business, so that by 1917 labels were being marked "Imp des Hôtels J.Devouge, Paris". During the 1920s, the company produced some interesting deco labels. At the time the printer's issues were marked with the texts: "Pap. Imp. des Hôtels, 1 rue du 29 Juillet, Paris"; "Imp des Hôtels, G.Grandjany, Paris"; "Devouge, Grandjany Sucs."; or "Imp des Hôtels, B.Grandjany, Paris".