Wee Birdy

December 19, 2008

The art of the poster: Christmas in London, 1932

Merry Christmas, by Dudley Dyer, 1932.
Published by Underground Electric Railways Company Ltd, 1932.
From the collection of the London Transport Museum.

I've collected some of my favourite Christmas posters from the archives of the London Transport Museum, and I'll be posting them every day from now until Christmas. They're a fascinating insight into London design over the past century, where illustrators were commissioned to design posters instead of advertising agencies. 

I was also bemused to find that many of the issues addressed in the posters carry much relevance today, such as urging shoppers to "buy British", politely asking them to move down into the carriage to avoid crowding (100 years later and they're still not listening), and advising Londoners to shop early in the day to avoid Christmas crowds.

The 'Art of the Poster' exhibition is currently on at the London Transport Museum until 31 March 2009. In the meantime, you might like to send some free Christmas webcards from the museum's poster archives.

The London Transport Museum
London Transport Museum

Covent Garden Piazza

London WC2E 7BB
Tel. 020 7379 6344

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