Marketing that broke the mould: General Post Office puts vintage posters up for sale
This article originally appeared on Culture24.
Vintage posters to raise money for a new museum of postal stories, records and objects, could open old Post Office Underground Railway to the public
Poster of Central Australia from the Outposts of Empire series by John Vickery, 1938© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & ArchiveCreated by some of the most prominent artists and designers of their time, the original posters are duplicates from the collections in the British Postal Museum and Archive and will be put up for auction by Onslows Auction House in Dorset on July 9.
The images, made between the 1930s and 1960s, focus on a range of subjects, from airmail to pleas for the careful packing of parcels.
Adrian Steel, the director of the museum and archive, praised the creativity of the designers and highlighted the importance of the posters. “Along with a number of other trendsetting organisations, the GPO broke the mould with its marketing in the 1930s," he suggested.
“Auctioning this striking series of posters prior to moving to The Postal Museum gives the public a rare opportunity to own a piece of iconic design.”
Poster advising correct packaging of parcels by Harry Stevens, June 1962© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & ArchiveMany of the artists went on to make iconic designs for places such as London Transport and the Ministry of Information with posters made to support the war effort during the Second World War.
“The funds raised will support our ambitious plans for a new, national museum and unique subterranean experience on the Mail Rail,” added Steel.
The Postal Museum will have permanent exhibition galleries and a temporary exhibition space bringing social, communication and design history from the past five centuries to London.
There are also plans to open up a section of the old Post Office Underground Railway, Mail Rail, allowing the public to take a ride through some of the original tunnels beneath the capital. Visit postalmuseum.org for more.
- A selection of the posters will be available to view at the Chalke Valley History Festival until June 28. Onslows can also be contacted for a private viewing on 01258 488838 or onslow.auctions@btinternet.com.
Post Office Underground Mail Train: London by Lili Rethi, 1937© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster advertising the telegram service by Hans Unger, March 1951© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster of Ceylon from the Outposts of Empire series of posters by John vickery, 1938© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster advertising the Post Office Savings Bank by Stan Krol, c.1960© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster advocating care when packing parcels by James Mawtus-Judd, March 1962© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster of Northern Ireland from the Outposts of Britain series of posters by Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1937© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster advertising the publication 'London Post Offices and Streets' by Jan Lewitt and George Him, September 1951© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Museum & Archive
Loading Mails at the Docks in London 1934 by Harold Sandys Williamson, 1936© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster advertising the benefits of wrapping parcels carefully by Stan Krol, c.1953© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster advertising post card rates by Derrick Hass, July 1954© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster of Lands End from the Outposts of Britiain series of posters by Edward McKnight Kauffer, 1937© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Museum & Archive
Poster advertising the Post Office Savings Bank by Frederic Henri Kay Henrion, March 1944© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Postal Museum & Archive
Poster promoting correct postage for airmail services by Stan Krol, November 1954© Royal Mail Group courtesy of The British Museum & ArchiveMore from Culture24's Transport and Industry section:
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