Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case GG, Shelf 86

Print

1988 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
UK (made)

This is a petition form in the guise of a postcard. The image is taken from the familiar map of the London Underground railway system, but with the sites of hospitals where closures are planned substituted for the names of some of the stations. The message on the card makes play with the word 'tube' - London's Underground is often referred to as 'the tube' - and the slang expression 'going down the tubes', used to describe something which is failing or in decline. According to the then Marketing Manager of London Regional Transport these petition forms were handed out at London Underground stations during the 1988 Budget speech.

Delve deeper

Discover more about this object
view Mapping the imagination Maps are simplified schematic diagrams that employ a universal visual language through which we codify and comprehend our world. We all use maps in our daily lives as sources of information about places, routes, networks, and boundaries. They offer us the means of describing and understand...

Object details

Categories
Health
Politics
Maps
Object type
Print
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithograph
Colour Offset Lithograph
Brief description
Petition form in the guise of a postcard, imitating a map of the London Underground, addressed to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher; United Kingdom, 1988
Physical description
Petition form in the guise of a postcard, imitating a map of the London Underground system and showing hospital closure sites.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12cm
  • Width: 15.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • LONDON'S HEALTH SERVICE HAS BEEN GOING DOWN THE TUBE SINCE 1979. THE LONDON HOSPITAL CRISIS Indicates just some of the 80 hospitals this Government has agreed for full or partial closure. SOURCE: PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN ANSWER 1987. HEALTH BEFORE WEALTH © Copyright London Regional Transport. (Lettered on the front)
  • HEALTH BEFORE WEALTH Dear Mrs Thatcher, I wish to register my protest at the Government's failure to provide adequate public funding for the National Health Service in London. From: Name: Address: (Lettered on the back)
Gallery label
Anonymous Petition form against hospital closures British 1988 This card adapts the familiar format of the London Underground Railway map for a petition against proposed hospital closures. Punning on the slang phrase 'going down the tube', it names of certain stations after hospitals under threat. Colour offset lithograph on paper Given by Charles Newton Museum no. E78-1988(2007)
Credit line
Given by Charles Newton
Subjects depicted
Health
Protest
Map
Hospitals
Summary
This is a petition form in the guise of a postcard. The image is taken from the familiar map of the London Underground railway system, but with the sites of hospitals where closures are planned substituted for the names of some of the stations. The message on the card makes play with the word 'tube' - London's Underground is often referred to as 'the tube' - and the slang expression 'going down the tubes', used to describe something which is failing or in decline. According to the then Marketing Manager of London Regional Transport these petition forms were handed out at London Underground stations during the 1988 Budget speech.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.78-1988

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 15, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O133154/print-unknown/
Download as: JSON