Skegness is SO bracing thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MB2F, Shelf DR77, Box BRITISH MUSEUM POSTERS

Skegness is SO bracing

Poster
ca. 1925 (printed), 1908 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster was first issued by the Great Northern Railway in 1908. It was then reissued by London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) about 1925. John Hassall (1868-1948) was a contemporary of Dudley Hardy (1867-1922) and produced many posters for the clients of the printers David Allen & Sons. His greatest strength was his humour, which made his images highly popular both then and now. The image of the fisherman, first issued by the Great Northern Railway in 1908, and from 1925 repeatedly used by the LNER, still promotes the Lincolnshire town of Skegness today.

Delve deeper

Discover more about this object
read Selling the seaside – British holiday posters For over a century, we've flocked to the coast in search of sun, sand and sea – the essential ingredients for a summer holiday. Explore the pleasures and pastimes of the British seaside through these classic posters, charting the history of holidays at home.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSkegness is SO bracing (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph print on paper
Brief description
'Skegness Is SO Bracing'. Colour lithograph poster showing a picture of a fisherman skipping along a beach. Originally designed by John Hassall in 1908 for the Great Northern Railway. Issued by the London and North Eastern Railway. Great Britain. ca.1925.
Physical description
'Skegness Is SO Bracing'. Colour lithograph poster showing a picture of a fisherman wearing a black hat, blue jumper, white breeches, and thigh-length Wellingtons. He is smoking a pipe and skipping along a beach with small puddles of sea-water and a starfish on it. The pier can be seen in the distance. The text of ‘SKEGNESS’ is above the image and ‘SO BRACING’ runs below.
Signed 'Hassall' in the lower-right corner of the image.
Dimensions
  • Height: 101.6cm
  • Width: 63.5cm
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
  • 'SKEGNESS IS SO BRACING' (Text of design, running above and below image.)
  • 'Hassall' (Signed in the lower-right corner of the image.)
  • 'Illustrated Guide from Secretary Advancement Association, / Skegness or any L.N.E.R. Enquiry Office' (Below text of design.)
  • 'Published by the London & North Eastern Railway.' (Bottom-left corner of sheet.)
Credit line
Given by the artist. Reproduced courtesy of Skegness Town Council
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This poster was first issued by the Great Northern Railway in 1908. It was then reissued by London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) about 1925. John Hassall (1868-1948) was a contemporary of Dudley Hardy (1867-1922) and produced many posters for the clients of the printers David Allen & Sons. His greatest strength was his humour, which made his images highly popular both then and now. The image of the fisherman, first issued by the Great Northern Railway in 1908, and from 1925 repeatedly used by the LNER, still promotes the Lincolnshire town of Skegness today.
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
17/G12 - V&A microfiche
Collection
Accession number
E.1326-1931

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 createdFebruary 13, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSON