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Print

1991 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Royal Mail gift book for five 'Rose' stamps with lettering after that designed by typefounder L.J. Pouchée (active in about 1820) and illustrations of roses.

The leaflet is designed to fold into an open-ended envelope inside which fits a black display sheet with melinex attached to hold the stamps.

On the back of the leaflet each of the five roses is described in the centre. At the top and bottom are the folds that form the front of the 'envelope' and they comprise a background of petals and the title 'ROSES' in monochrome decorated block typeface, with rose decorations in a wood-engraved style.

The inside of the leaflet features a desription of the symbolic and social meaning of roses surrounded by a decorative border with roses depicted in a number of representational styles, including photographic representations and illustrations of 'embroidered' roses, Tudor Roses, a mug, a fan and a bunch of roses.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour offset lithograph from a wood engraving in ink on paper, melinex
Brief description
Royal Mail gift book for a set of stamps on the theme of roses, leaflet folding into envelope to contain five 'Rose' stamps (numbered E.669:2-6-1994). Colour offset lithography from wood engraving by Yvonne Skargon, designed by Dick Davis, lettering designed by L.J. Pouchée; British, 1991.
Physical description
Royal Mail gift book for five 'Rose' stamps with lettering after that designed by typefounder L.J. Pouchée (active in about 1820) and illustrations of roses.

The leaflet is designed to fold into an open-ended envelope inside which fits a black display sheet with melinex attached to hold the stamps.

On the back of the leaflet each of the five roses is described in the centre. At the top and bottom are the folds that form the front of the 'envelope' and they comprise a background of petals and the title 'ROSES' in monochrome decorated block typeface, with rose decorations in a wood-engraved style.

The inside of the leaflet features a desription of the symbolic and social meaning of roses surrounded by a decorative border with roses depicted in a number of representational styles, including photographic representations and illustrations of 'embroidered' roses, Tudor Roses, a mug, a fan and a bunch of roses.
Dimensions
  • Gift book leaflet envelope unfolded height: 28.5cm
  • Gift book leaftlet envelope width: 21.5cm
  • Gift book leaflet envelope folded height: 11.4cm
  • Display sheet height: 11.6cm
  • Display sheet width: 21.5cm
Gallery label
(1994)
Yvonne SKARGON (born 1931)

Gift pack of Rose stamps and a proof for Ryal Mail. 1991
Ornamented letters by L.J. Pouchée. c.1820
Colour offset lithograph and wood engraving
E.668, 669-1994
Given by Yvonne Skargon

...

Wood engraving is also used today for small scale work, where
clarity of design is paramount. Since the mid 1960s the Royal Mail
has issued special, decorated stamps. The artwork for Yvonne
Skargon's Roses shows how allowance was made in the engraving
for its photomechanical reproduction. Colour separations were used
for the colour. Wood engraving is particularly suited to stamp book
covers which need to have a matt surface because of the mechanism
of the vending machine. Matt board is however absorbent and
therefore a strong design is needed. Harry Brockway's proofs
demonstrate his use of the reduction method in order to print
in two colours.
Credit line
Given by the artist
Object history
Acquired in connection with the display A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain, V&A, 10 October 1994 - 26 March 1995.
Production
L.J. Pouchée was a type founder active ca. 1820
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, 10 Oct 1994 - 26 Mar 1995
Collection
Accession number
E.669:1-1994

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Record createdDecember 17, 2008
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