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The Only Road for an Englishman

Poster
1914 (proofed), 1915 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Gerald Spencer Pryse produced a number of fine recruiting and propaganda posters during the First World War, as well as others relating to social ills in peacetime, such as unemployment and homelessness. He worked as a despatch rider for the Belgian Government, travelling around the country with lithographic stones in the back of his car. In this way he both saw and drew at first hand, even under fire, the German invasion of neutral Belgium.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Only Road for an Englishman (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Auto-lithograph printed in black and ochre on white paper
Brief description
Gerald Spencer Pryse. The Only Road for an Englishman. 1914.
Physical description
lithographic poster printed in black and ochre on white ground.Image of soldiers marching from right to left across foot of image, behind them the ruins of shelled buildings. Portrait format
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 1635mm
  • Sheet width: 1021mm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
Johnson, Riddle & Co Ltd. London (Maker's identification; lithography)
Credit line
Given by the London General Omnibus Company Ltd.
Production
Attribution note: the poster was commissioned by the Underground Electric Railways Co of London, U.K. to recruit for the First World War.
Reason For Production: Commission
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
Gerald Spencer Pryse produced a number of fine recruiting and propaganda posters during the First World War, as well as others relating to social ills in peacetime, such as unemployment and homelessness. He worked as a despatch rider for the Belgian Government, travelling around the country with lithographic stones in the back of his car. In this way he both saw and drew at first hand, even under fire, the German invasion of neutral Belgium.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1915, London: Printed under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1916.
Collection
Accession number
E.4257-1915

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Record createdFebruary 18, 2003
Record URL
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