Série GB 0813 POST 109 Series - Post Office: Publicity artwork and designs

890 items, 21 files

GB 0813 POST 109 Series [1909]-2003 Series 890 items, 21 files

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Much of the artwork in the series was commissioned by the Public Relations Department, which was first created in 1934, under the first Post Office Public Relations Officer, Stephen Tallents.

Right from the conception of the department, it assumed responsibility for commissioning designs for posters, which it considered to be a vital part of Post Office publicity, it did this initially in consultation with a 'Poster Advisory Group' but, from 1937, it operated in its own right. The department approached leading artists for the production of posters of two kinds, known respectively as 'Prestige' and 'Selling'. 'Prestige' posters fell into two categories: those specially prepared for distribution to schools and those for display in the public offices of Crown Post Offices and non-public offices in Post Office buildings, they were intended to be more formal in style, eye catching rather than persuasive. 'Selling' posters had a direct 'selling' appeal and were intended to persuade the beholder to use a particular service or buy a particular product.

The Post Office Greetings Telegram Service was introduced in July 1935 as a means of revitalising the telegraph service and the Public Relations Department was involved from the outset, involving itself both in publicising the new service and in commissioning artists to produce designs for the forms themselves. Greetings telegrams were to be associated with special occasions and as such, designs had to be particularly attractive, with an element of luxury, this was encapsulated in the golden envelope designed to accompany the form.

The Public Relations Department underwent several changes in structure throughout the decades following the 1930s, but the production of good publicity literature, both written and visual, continued to be a very important part of its remit. Post Corporation, commissioned artists tended to be less well known and the focus of the posters turned increasingly towards the promotion of special stamp issues and philatelic products.

In the 1990s, the Public Relations Department was renamed as Communication Services and was positioned as part of Royal Mail Group Centre. This signified a change in outlook, with an emphasis on 'hard sell' and the commissioning of advertising agencies to work on individual campaigns for special services and products.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

The earliest material in this series consists of artwork commissioned by the Public Relations Department and its predecessors to be printed and distributed as posters and greetings telegram forms.

It includes designs for posters that were subsequently published under the publication references IRP and PRD and a number of adopted greetings telegram designs, it also contains many designs for both posters and greetings telegrams that were rejected.

The Public Relations Department approached many artists to produce designs for posters and greetings telegram forms and the series includes work from noted artists such as: Tom Eckersley, Frank Newbould, Edward McKnight Kauffer, John Nash, Jan Lewitt and George Him, Pat Keely, Barnett Freedman, Claudia Freedman, Rex Whistler, Margaret Calkin James, Edward Bawden and John Farleigh.

Later material includes artwork produced for a variety of purposes, such as publicity leaflets, press advertisements and designs for logos, vehicle livery, postal equipment and letter boxes.

Material consists of paintings and pencil and ink drawings, it also incorporates various techniques such as lithography and computer aided design. The series also contains a number of photographs and transparencies as well as annotated printed proofs for designs.

There are also a number of items relating to logo and logotype design and branding of the Post Office and its services, including artwork for the redesign of the GPO logo by MacDonald Gill in 1934.

Also included are a number of original illustrations produced by artist, Ben Maile in 1990 for inclusion in a Post Office commissioned book: 'First Post: From Penny Black to Present Day'.

Series is arranged according to design purpose and is accordingly split into the following sub-series:

-Poster artwork.

-Greetings telegram artwork.

-Publicity leaflet/brochure artwork.

-Artwork relating to 'First Post: From penny black to the present day' by Ben Maile.

-Artwork relating to logos and miscellaneous designs.

-Artwork relating to vehicle design.

-Artwork and proofs for press and media advertising and Point of Sale material.

-Letter box, pillar box and vending machine designs.

-Equipment designs.

-Artwork for presentation packs, stamp books and First Day Covers.

Public Record

Please contact the Archive for further information.

English

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Some of the artwork relating to posters on a telecommunications theme was transferred to BT Archives in 1993, it is held there under finding number POST 109. See also POST 110 which includes printed publicity posters and leaflets and POST 104 which contains examples of greetings telegram forms from the 1930s through to the 1970s.

Entry checked by Barbara Ball

Compiled in compliance with General Internation Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G) second edition 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Entry checked June 2011 Mass communication Public relations Communication process Advertising Postal services Post Office Communication industry

Please contact the Archive for further information.

The earliest material in this series consists of artwork commissioned by the Public Relations Department and its predecessors to be printed and distributed as posters and greetings telegram forms.

It includes designs for posters that were subsequently published under the publication references IRP and PRD and a number of adopted greetings telegram designs, it also contains many designs for both posters and greetings telegrams that were rejected.

The Public Relations Department approached many artists to produce designs for posters and greetings telegram forms and the series includes work from noted artists such as: Tom Eckersley, Frank Newbould, Edward McKnight Kauffer, John Nash, Jan Lewitt and George Him, Pat Keely, Barnett Freedman, Claudia Freedman, Rex Whistler, Margaret Calkin James, Edward Bawden and John Farleigh.

Later material includes artwork produced for a variety of purposes, such as publicity leaflets, press advertisements and designs for logos, vehicle livery, postal equipment and letter boxes.

Material consists of paintings and pencil and ink drawings, it also incorporates various techniques such as lithography and computer aided design. The series also contains a number of photographs and transparencies as well as annotated printed proofs for designs.

There are also a number of items relating to logo and logotype design and branding of the Post Office and its services, including artwork for the redesign of the GPO logo by MacDonald Gill in 1934.

Also included are a number of original illustrations produced by artist, Ben Maile in 1990 for inclusion in a Post Office commissioned book: 'First Post: From Penny Black to Present Day'.

Series is arranged according to design purpose and is accordingly split into the following sub-series:

-Poster artwork.

-Greetings telegram artwork.

-Publicity leaflet/brochure artwork.

-Artwork relating to 'First Post: From penny black to the present day' by Ben Maile.

-Artwork relating to logos and miscellaneous designs.

-Artwork relating to vehicle design.

-Artwork and proofs for press and media advertising and Point of Sale material.

-Letter box, pillar box and vending machine designs.

-Equipment designs.

-Artwork for presentation packs, stamp books and First Day Covers.

Public Record

Please contact the Archive for further information.

• inglês

• latim

English

Some of the artwork relating to posters on a telecommunications theme was transferred to BT Archives in 1993, it is held there under finding number POST 109. See also POST 110 which includes printed publicity posters and leaflets and POST 104 which contains examples of greetings telegram forms from the 1930s through to the 1970s.

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Compiled in compliance with General Internation Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G) second edition 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• inglês