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Loading the transatlantic mail at Falmouth 1833

Poster
1934 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The General Post Office launched and continued an extremely successful poster campaign throughout the mid-twentieth century in order to advertise the services it provided as well as to shape public perception of the organisation. In 1934, the GPO even formed the short-lived Poster Advisory Group to help create representative images and striking graphic design.

This poster establishes a historical narrative by presenting a scene of mail delivery in 1833 via ship and covered wagon.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLoading the transatlantic mail at Falmouth 1833 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Brief description
Poster for the GPO (General Post Office) by H.S. Williamson depicting a dock scene in 1833 with masted ships in Falmouth. Great Britain, 1934.
Physical description
Dock scene with masted ships. Primarily blue with some black, and some tan. Covered wagon with six horses, a seventh being led by a man in a smock. Text.
Dimensions
  • Height: 50.8cm
  • Width: 64.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Mails for the packets arriving at Falmouth, 1833 (black)
  • GPO logo ([crown and ring] bottom left)
  • Russell & Co/ London to Falmouth (text printed on covered wagon)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
The General Post Office launched and continued an extremely successful poster campaign throughout the mid-twentieth century in order to advertise the services it provided as well as to shape public perception of the organisation. In 1934, the GPO even formed the short-lived Poster Advisory Group to help create representative images and striking graphic design.

This poster establishes a historical narrative by presenting a scene of mail delivery in 1833 via ship and covered wagon.
Bibliographic references
  • 'GPO posters : post early, 1920-1960' sponsored by the Royal Mail. London: Camberwell Press,1993. 87 p. : col. ill. ; 40 cm.
  • "State patronage of design? The elitism/commercialism battle in the General Post Office's graphic production" by Y. Suga. Journal of Design History.Volume 13, Issue 1, 2000: pp. 23-38
Other number
LS.1906 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.744-2004

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Record createdSeptember 16, 2004
Record URL
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