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Poster

ca. 1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This print is a colour lithograph. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate) on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper. To make a colour lithograph, a separate printing surface is required for each colour.

The size of this poster is known as 8-sheet. British poster dimensions were based on the double-crown sheet unit which measures 30 by 20 inches. Since this poster measures roughly 60 x 80 inches, its size equals 8 double-crown sheets. Standardisation of sizes (4-sheet, 8-sheet, 16-sheet, etc.) meant that bill posters could paste posters on the hoardings in modular fashion.

Trading
By the end of the 19th century, hoardings covered with brightly-coloured posters were a familiar sight. Many of these posters advertised convenience foodstuffs like dried (desiccated) soup, cocoa powder, tinned sardines and bottled sauces, reflecting new consumer demand and retail practice. Advertisers like Samuel Benson, whose firm S.H. Benson produced this poster, were quick to develop techniques of branding and campaign management to exploit new markets.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph, inks on paper
Brief description
Poster for Edwards' Desiccated Soup, printed by Henry Blacklock & Co. Manchester, ca. 1900.
Physical description
Poster
Dimensions
  • Height: 161.5cm
  • Width: 209cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 22/08/2000 by MT Measured on current lining paper. ET to check once properly mounted.
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Lettering plays a key role in the design of this bold hoarding poster. Three-dimensional letters project forward to spell out the product name, catching the sun's rays. The letters of the word 'Desiccated' [dried] diminish and expand in perspective, emphasising the special feature of the brand.
Credit line
Given by Ogilvy Benson & Mather Ltd
Object history
Printed by Henry Blacklock & Co., Manchester; issued by S.H. Benson (advertising agent), London
Summary
Object Type
This print is a colour lithograph. A lithograph is a picture made by printing from a flat surface (traditionally stone, now often a metal plate) on which the artist draws or paints the original design with a greasy substance like chalk. The surface is next prepared, moistened and inked; the greasy printing ink adheres to the design, which is then printed onto a sheet of paper. To make a colour lithograph, a separate printing surface is required for each colour.

The size of this poster is known as 8-sheet. British poster dimensions were based on the double-crown sheet unit which measures 30 by 20 inches. Since this poster measures roughly 60 x 80 inches, its size equals 8 double-crown sheets. Standardisation of sizes (4-sheet, 8-sheet, 16-sheet, etc.) meant that bill posters could paste posters on the hoardings in modular fashion.

Trading
By the end of the 19th century, hoardings covered with brightly-coloured posters were a familiar sight. Many of these posters advertised convenience foodstuffs like dried (desiccated) soup, cocoa powder, tinned sardines and bottled sauces, reflecting new consumer demand and retail practice. Advertisers like Samuel Benson, whose firm S.H. Benson produced this poster, were quick to develop techniques of branding and campaign management to exploit new markets.
Collection
Accession number
E.33-1973

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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