British post war posters and graphics.
I’m not really here today because I’m off on a mission. But here’s something in the meantime.
It’s a little 10″ x 15″ GPO poster, by Daphne Padden, of course.
I’m hoping it’s going to be appropriate, because if all goes well today, I shall be returning with a further heap of Padden posters in the boot. In which case we will be celebrating with black cats and champagne. And pictures on here of course.
We didn’t just buy this for the pun potential, honestly.
Although that was quite a big part of why we did. It is, of course, another lovely Daphne Padden for P&O, from the S S Empire Fowey in 1959.
Along with it came this, which is the menu for what looks like the children’s party on the same day.
I can’t see too many modern children going for the Petit Bouchee of Sweetbreads at the start, although the jellies, celebration cake and lemonade are pretty timeless. Sadly, this one isn’t signed, so if anyone has any ideas about who might have designed this – particularly the determined ship’s cat, do get in touch. This may well become Small Crownfolio’s party invitation later this year.
In addition to being wonderful though, this also turns out to be a window into a bit of social history that I didn’t even know existed. It was sold on eBay as a cruise ship menu; which it sort of is, but at the same time isn’t.
The design was certainly produced for a cruise ship – it was used on the SS Arcadia in 1957, and probably also elsewhere. But the S S Empire Fowey wasn’t going cruising in 1959. It was a troopship, operated by P&O but transporting British soldiers (and their families, hence the children’s menu) to postings in Cyprus, Aden and elsewhere. Apparently there was even school provided for the children aboard, as the journeys could last up to a month.
The Empire Fowey herself had a fascinating life – she began life as a German liner, was taken over as a troop transport and then gunship. But in 1945, with the Allied victory, she was taken by the British as part of the war reparations, at which point she became a troop ship, but operated by P&O. Then, in 1960, once air travel was becoming the norm for army postings, she was sold to a Pakistani cruise firm, who used her to take pilgrims to Mecca, until she was finally scrapped in 1976.
The Fowey’s odd status, half cruise ship, half transport ship explains a couple of things. Like the fact that the menu has no printing on the back (unlike the others we have for ‘real’ cruises which have a design on the back as well). And the way that the menu itself isn’t as lavish as I’d come to expect from P&O in the fifties. Still, it’s rather nice to think that the army and its families got a small taste of the cruising life, even if it was just for one night only.
And f any of this has whetted your appetite for troopships, menus or even indeed sweetbreads, another near-identical set is available on eBay from the same seller.
Everyone has spent their weekend listing posters on eBay, it seems. Well, everyone except me. But there is a something for almost every taste out there this morning.
Quite a bit of it is, however, somewhat battered. Like this Tom Purvis poster, for example.
This series has been mentioned on here before, as an example of the shift in Shell advertising from technical to natural. Which it is, along with being by Tom Purvis. So I really ought to like it. But I don’t, not even a little bit.
Mind you, it’s in better condition than the next exhibit, this whole collection of posters in the States, apparently discovered in an attic in 1967.
The three above are the classics, but my favourite has to be this one.
In my head, I am now back in Manchester, to a soundtrack of the Smiths. And I’ve never seen that poster before either, so it’s doubly pleasing.
These are all a bit spotted and chewed, but there are other ways to mistreat posters.
My eyes, my eyes. It’s Out and About: Country Houses by Clive Gardiner from 1951, in case you can’t tell. Sadly there are several in this state up for sale, including Literary London by Sheila Robinson.
Although the listings beg more questions than they answer.
Unfortunately this poster has been stored wrapped in an obscure way, which has left it too unravel as shown.
However there are no creases caused by this, so once framed or flattened out it will look good as new.
No, there are creases, I can see them. Which leads me to suggest that it will take more than flattening to sort this out.
As is all the fashion these days, they’re all listed for £99, which I don’t really think they’re worth in this condition. While the Peter Roberson below wouldn’t be worth that if if were flat, mounted on linen and offering to make me a cup of coffee every morning.
Well, perhaps for the coffee.
There have also been a rash of Shell Educational posters turning up too. A complete set of S R Badmin’s monthly Guide to Trees is available for the rather eyewatering sum of £350.
Which compares rather unfavourably with both the full series of John Leigh Pemberton’s Life In… posters at just £1.99 each
and also these six County posters, which have an even lower starting price of £1.50.
I wish I knew, for no other reason than my own satisfaction, what Shell educational posters were really worth. I’ve seen auction houses really talk them up (although not always manage to sell them) while other auction houses won’t even take them these days. So I shall watch these sales with interest and see if I can draw any conclusions.
Finally, someone other than us is selling Daphne Padden posters. So if you’ve missed something you liked, here’s another bite at the cherry.
These ones are also signed in pencil, as were some of the ones that we bought from her estate sale, so I wonder whether they too came from her own collection. Perhaps I’ll email and ask.
Happy New Year. I’ve had flu, so Quad Royal will be easing itself gently into 2011 for the next week or two.
Today, I will be mostly reminding you about this.
A coach. Which is advertising The Golden Age of Coach Travel on BBC4 tonight (full details here if you want to know more).
I have no idea whether there will be posters or not, but I will be watching intently, just in case they show something of this ilk.
Or indeed this.
And yes, this does make me a bit nerdy, but what the heck. This may be the year to embrace my inner nerd.
Should these posters whet your appetite, a few have appeared on eBay too. For example this Daphne Padden.
Or a Harry Stevens.
And even a Royston Cooper.
They’re all on offer from the same seller, and all currently at reasonable prices, although with a week to go, this may change. Once again I suspect someone churning some Morphets’ purchases, but obviously this is just a theory rather than any hard facts.
It is better to travel than arrive. Which is why the advent calendar is still on its way today.
Another Daphne Padden, another lovely reindeer and cheerful Santa. What more could you ask for on Christmas Eve?
Time to start thinking about Christmas travel. Although this looks like one of the chillier methods.
They all seem pretty jolly though. It’s by Daphne Padden, of course, and I’m assuming it’s a coach poster. Happy Travelling.