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Half-way round the world on "Shell"

Poster
1921 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

'Half-way round the world on “Shell”'. Colour lithograph poster advertising the use of Shell Aviation Motor Spirit on Captain Sir Ross Smith’s historic flight from England to Australia. Signed and dated '1921'.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHalf-way round the world on "Shell"
Materials and techniques
Colour lithography
Brief description
'Half-way round the world on “Shell”'. Colour lithograph poster advertising the use of Shell Aviation Motor Spirit on Captain Sir Ross Smith’s historic flight from England to Australia. Designed by Macdonald Gill. Issued by Shell-Mex Co. Ltd.. Great Britain. 1921.
Physical description
'Half-way round the world on “Shell”'. Colour lithograph poster advertising the use of Shell Aviation Motor Spirit on Captain Sir Ross Smith’s historic flight from England to Australia. Signed and dated '1921'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 75cm
  • Width: 54.4cm
Dimensions taken from: 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
Marks and inscriptions
(Signed and dated '1921'.)
Historical context
Captain Ross Macpherson Smith was one of aviation's early pioneers.

In 1919 the Commonwealth Government of Australia offered a prize of £10,000 for the first flight by Australians in an aircraft of British Empire manufacture from England to Australia accomplished within 30 days.

Captain Ross Macpherson Smith (pilot), with his brother Lieutenant Keith Macpherson Smith (assistant pilot and navigator), accompanied by two mechanics, successfully completed the journey. They flew in a Vickers Vimy, from Hounslow, England, on 12th November 1919 and landed in Darwin on 10th December.
Subjects depicted
Associations
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
15/E6 - V&A microfiche
Collection
Accession number
E.1324-1921

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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