Blue Cross Tea
Poster
ca. 1900 (issued)
ca. 1900 (issued)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This is a colour lithograph. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper. For a colour lithograph, a separate surface is required for each colour.
The poster is 4-sheet format. British poster dimensions were based on the double-crown sheet unit which measures 30 by 20 inches. Since this poster measures roughly 60 x 40 inches, its size equals 4 double-crown sheets. Standardisation of sizes (4-sheet, 6-sheet, 8-sheet, 16-sheet, etc.) meant that bill posters could paste posters on the hoardings in modular fashion.
Design & Designing
The trademark plays a key role in the design of this bold hoarding poster. The uncluttered design and orange background colour allows the title and Blue Cross brand, on display in the background, to stand out.
Trading
By the end of the 19th century, hoardings covered with brightly-coloured posters were a familiar sight. Many of these posters advertised convenience foodstuffs like dried (desiccated) soup, cocoa powder, tinned sardines and bottled sauces, reflecting new consumer demand and retail practice. Advertisers developed techniques of branding and total campaign management to exploit new markets. In this case the advertisers make use of a competition to help draw attention to the product.
This is a colour lithograph. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper. For a colour lithograph, a separate surface is required for each colour.
The poster is 4-sheet format. British poster dimensions were based on the double-crown sheet unit which measures 30 by 20 inches. Since this poster measures roughly 60 x 40 inches, its size equals 4 double-crown sheets. Standardisation of sizes (4-sheet, 6-sheet, 8-sheet, 16-sheet, etc.) meant that bill posters could paste posters on the hoardings in modular fashion.
Design & Designing
The trademark plays a key role in the design of this bold hoarding poster. The uncluttered design and orange background colour allows the title and Blue Cross brand, on display in the background, to stand out.
Trading
By the end of the 19th century, hoardings covered with brightly-coloured posters were a familiar sight. Many of these posters advertised convenience foodstuffs like dried (desiccated) soup, cocoa powder, tinned sardines and bottled sauces, reflecting new consumer demand and retail practice. Advertisers developed techniques of branding and total campaign management to exploit new markets. In this case the advertisers make use of a competition to help draw attention to the product.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Blue Cross Tea |
| Materials and techniques | Colour lithograph on paper |
| Brief description | 'Blue Cross Tea'. Poster issued by The British & Beningtons Tea Trading Association Ltd., London SE. With a sticker attached. Colour lithograph. Signed. By Stewart Browne. Great Britain. c.1900. |
| Physical description | 'Blue Cross Tea' poster with a sticker attached. Featuring a grocer's shop with and display board advertising Blue Cross Tea in the background. A gentleman leaving the shop is carrying a packet of biscuits on the end of his umbrella. The man wears a red waistcoat. The background colour is predominantly mustard yellow which shows off the blues in the text and the trademark displayed in the background. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
BLUE CROSS TEA
About 1900
This poster follows the fashion of the day for bold outlines and flat areas of colour. The uncluttered design and bright yellow background makes the blue product title – and the company brand in the background – stand out.
Colour lithograph, inks on paper
Designed by Stewart Browne (worked between about 1875 and 1900), issued by The British & Beningtons Tea Trading Association Ltd
Given by Ogilvy Benson & Mather Ltd
Museum no. E.13-1973(12/2012) |
| Credit line | Given by Ogilvy Benson & Mather Ltd |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This is a colour lithograph. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate), on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper. For a colour lithograph, a separate surface is required for each colour. The poster is 4-sheet format. British poster dimensions were based on the double-crown sheet unit which measures 30 by 20 inches. Since this poster measures roughly 60 x 40 inches, its size equals 4 double-crown sheets. Standardisation of sizes (4-sheet, 6-sheet, 8-sheet, 16-sheet, etc.) meant that bill posters could paste posters on the hoardings in modular fashion. Design & Designing The trademark plays a key role in the design of this bold hoarding poster. The uncluttered design and orange background colour allows the title and Blue Cross brand, on display in the background, to stand out. Trading By the end of the 19th century, hoardings covered with brightly-coloured posters were a familiar sight. Many of these posters advertised convenience foodstuffs like dried (desiccated) soup, cocoa powder, tinned sardines and bottled sauces, reflecting new consumer demand and retail practice. Advertisers developed techniques of branding and total campaign management to exploit new markets. In this case the advertisers make use of a competition to help draw attention to the product. |
| Bibliographic reference | Summary Catalogue of British Posters to 1988 in the Victoria & Albert Museum in the Department of Design, Prints & Drawing. Emmett Publishing, 1990. 129 p. ISBN: 1 869934 12 1 |
| Other number | 7/C9 - V&A microfiche |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.13-1973 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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