The blog has been a little bit overlooked lately. Apologies for that, I’ve had a rather urgent appointment with some wallpaper that needed to be removed. It’s been a bad time to be distracted as well, because people – well the readers of this blog to be precise – have been sending me things. And they’ve been rather good.
Let’s start with these, mostly because I asked for them. ’Did Daphne Padden design any other leaflets for British Railways?’, I asked the other day. The answer is a resounding yes.
And here’s another, although I’ll be blowed if I have any idea what a ‘Radio Cruise’ is. Can anyone enlighten me?
She even designed the insides of this one too.
Which include this rather fine map.
Are there more out there? I hope so, although I am anticipating that I might have to do something frightening, like attend a transport ephemera fair, to find them.
Meanwhile through the actual mail box came a small set of these little London Transport prints – I’m sure there is a precise art historical word for what they are but I’m afraid I don’t know it. Anyway, they were a fantastic gift all the way from America so thank you very much.
What I got was four little folders, each containing a small print of a London Transport poster from 1953. Here’s St James’ Palace by David Lewis.
Each print was the pictorial half of a pair poster, so making the transfer to prints quite well. I can’t decide whether my favourite is the John Bainbridge or the Sheila Robinson (both artists who deserve further notice on this blog one day).
I have no idea, however, what the purpose of these were. Were they bought by the public and framed, or where they sent out by London Transport as a form of publicity? Or some other reason that I can’t even guess at. If anyone can enlighten me, please do.
While we’re on the subject of London Transport, this is also rather good.
This also reminds me that I’ve been meaning to mention the work of artist Micah Wright for a while. He’s been working on ironic modern versions of propaganda posters for a while, and got in contact with the blog to say that we might like this take on Pat Keely. He was right.
Most of what he does is American in origin, but it’s still very much worth taking a look at his PropagandaRemix website.
And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a wall that needs demolishing. But if you’ve got anything else to send me in the meantime, please feel free.
2 Comments
I’ve bought and sold a number of those LT poster ‘folders’ over the years. I was told, yonks ago, that they were press releases. Which seems most likely, I think.
I hope we shall see you ( and Mr Crown Folio ) at the forthcoming Bath book fair which I have the dubious honour of co-managing. Assembly Rooms, Sept. 29th and 30th. It’s the best in the West!
If you would like some complimentary tickets or can place publicity material anywhere I would be delighted to provide same. Email me a postal address.
All best, Steve
That sounds very likely, doesn’t it. But still a very smart way of going about it.
And yes – hope to see you there (and any other readers of this blog who are down that way too).