Destinations
'A Cook's Ticket', SE&CR poster, 1910.
'A Cook's Ticket Will Take You Anywhere on the South Eastern & Chatham Railway'. Poster produced for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway (SE&CR) to promote rail links with round the world travel tickets offered by the tour operator Thomas Cook & Son. The poster shows a woman wearing Edwardian walking attire holding a walking stick, standing on a globe. Thomas Cook (1808-1892) established his travel firm in 1841, offering holidays to worldwide destinations. Artwork by an unknown artist.
'Take a Kodak with you', advertisement for Kodak cameras, British, c 1910.
Colour poster produced for Kodak Ltd, showing the 'Kodak Girl' standing on a beach, holding a small camera and case, promoting a Daily Mail holiday photography competition with a £1000 prize. The introduction of portable rollfilm cameras increased the number of women taking photographs and Kodak recognised their potential as hobby users. In 1910, the 'Kodak Girl' became the central motif of Kodak's advertising. Famous for her striped dress, she featured in posters across four decades.
'Porthcawl', BR poster, 1956.
Poster produced for British Railways (BR) Western Region to promote rail travel to the coastal resort of Porthcawl in Bridgend. The poster promotes the town as a holiday destination, and shows a young boy running on the beach holding a spade, beach ball, tennis racket, golf club and net. Artwork by A Stevens.
'Be Early', LNER poster, 1923-1947.
Poster produced for London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote the company's new handbook for holidays on England's East Coast. The poster shows an illustration of the proverb 'The early bird catches the worm.' Artwork by Tom Purvis (1888-1957), who rallied for the profesionalisation of commercial art. In 1930 he was one of the group of artists who founded the Society of Industrial Artists, which campaigned for improved standards of training for commercial artists in order to broaden their scope of employment. He became one of the first Royal Designers for Industry in 1936. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 1270 mm.
'Saving of Daylight', LSWR poster, 1908.
'Saving of Daylight - Do not Wait for the Daylight Bill to Become Law but Secure Long Evenings for the Holidays by Visiting the West Country.' Poster produced for the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) to promote rail services to the West Country, where the sun sets about 20 minutes later than in London. The Daylight Bill of 1908 set the precedent for the twice-yearly changing of the clocks. Artwork by an unknown artist.
'Skegness is so Bracing', LNER poster, 1933.
Poster produced for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote rail travel to the Lincolnshire coastal resort town of Skegness. The poster shows a child pulling the 'Jolly Fisherman' by his red scarf. The 'Jolly Fisherman' poster is one of the most famous English holiday posters. It was first published in 1908 by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) which paid twelve pounds for it. Since then the 'Jolly Fisherman' has been caricatured and re-drawn over and over again. It was an outstanding poster for its time, because most Victorian and Edwardian posters were restrained and factual. Artwork by Frank Newbould (1887-1951) after John Hassall (1868-1948), who first drew the character.
'Hints for Holidays', SR poster, 1936.
Poster produced for Southern Railway (SR) to promote holiday rail travel. Artwork by Charles Pears (1873-1958), a marine painter in oil who was an Official Naval Artist during the World Wars. He worked as a poster artist for rail companies and other clients and was also a book illustrator.
'Cruise by Rail & Sea to the Isle of Man',
Cruise by Rail & Sea to the Isle of Man', BR (LMR) poster, 1977. Poster produced for British Rail (London Midland Region), advertising holidays to the 'land of smiles', featuring photographs of the Isle of Man Railway and the Manx Electric Railway. Printed by Lonsdale & Bartholomew Limited, Nottingham.
'People who love islands love the Isle of Man', BR, 1970.
British Rail poster promoting the Isle of Man and depicting holiday makers by the seaside.
'Cruises from Liverpool to the Scottish Fir
Cruises from Liverpool to the Scottish Firths & Fjords', LMS poster, c 1930s. Poster produced for the London Midland & Scottish Railway advertising holiday cruises from Liverpool on the steam yacht 'Killarny', and weekend cruises on the 'Ulster Queen' and 'Ulster Monarch'. Artwork by Harry Hudson Rodmell.
'Norfolk Coast - Illustrated Travel Booklets', LNER poster, 1926.
London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) poster advertsing travel booklets for 1926 holidays. Artwork by Frank Newbould.
'South for Winter Sunshine', SR poster, 1929.
Poster produced for the Southern Railway (SR), advertising the South of England as a sunny destination for winter holidays, showing a stylised steam train with the sun behind it. Artwork by Edmond Vaughan. Printed by Sanders Phillips & Co, The Baynard Pres, Chrysell Road, London, SW9.
'Lovely Llandudno', L&NWR poster, c 1910.
Poster produced for the Llandudno & North Wales Railway (L&NWR) to promote Llandudno as a holiday destination. Illustrated with a view from Little Orme. Artwork by Aya Dobson. Printed by Romwell Pres, Strand, London. Dimensions: 1014mm x 629 mm.
'York', LNER poster, c 1920s.
'York, Walled City of Antiquity, Centre of a Glorious Holiday District'. Poster produced for London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to promote rail travel to the ancient city of York. The poster shows a street scene illustration of the picturesque old buildings of The Shambles shopping area, with York Minster in the background and shoppers and a horse and cart in the foreground. Artwork by Fred Taylor, who was commisioned in 1930 to design four ceiling paintings for the Underwriting Room at Lloyd's and murals for Reed's Lacquer Room. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and other London galleries and worked for the Empire Marketing Board, LNER, London Transport and several shipping companies.
'Refresh Yourself with a Mini Break in Belg
Refresh Yourself with a Mini Break in Belgium from only £26.50', BR (Sealink), c 1980s. Poster produced for British Rail (BR), Sealink, promoting 'mini break' holidays to Belgium, showing a young couple, with local landmarks, including the Atomium in Brusels, seen in the background.
'Tourist Resorts in the Peak of Derbyshire', MR poster, 1923-1947.
Midland Railway poster; ''''Holiday Resort Series No 4'''', showing beauty spots in the Peak District.
'Norfolk Broads Holidays Afloat', BR poster, 1957.
Poster produced for British Railways (BR) to promote floating holidays on the Norfolk Broads. Artwork by an unknown artist.
'Hints for Holidays', SR poster, 1938.
Poster produced by Southern Railway (SR) to promote rail travel to the south of England, as well as the company's publication 'Hints for Holidays'. Artwork by Libis.