: Wartime

Like many companies the General Post Office produced war-specific posters. The themes concentrated on the domestic war effort and encouraged people to consider their impact on that effort for example, using slogans such as ‘saving is everyone’s war job’ to promote savings accounts. Designs often utilised instruments of war such as merchant ships, thereby linking the home and away war efforts. The thumbnails below are links to larger images and more information.

Make your money the driving power - put it into the Post Office Savings Bank Eric Fraser (1902-1983) Make your money the driving power - put it into the Post Office Savings Bank, 1942 [+]
Size: Quad Crown Reference: The Royal Mail Archive POST 110/3193 (PRD 0286)

On Service. Public service is their watchword Austin Cooper (1890-1964) Public Service is their watch word ("On Service") 1941 [+]
Size: Quad Crown Reference: The Royal Mail Archive POST 110/3185 (PRD 0246)

Action stations - saving is everyone's war job. Post Office Savings Bank F K Henrion (1914-1990) Action stations - saving is everyone's war job. Post Office Savings Bank, 1944 [+]
Size: Quad Crown Reference: The Royal Mail Archive POST 110/3198 (PRD 0355)

Think ahead write instead Hans Schleger (Zero) (1898 1976) Think ahead write instead, 1945 [+]
Size: Quad Crown Reference: The Royal Mail Archive POST 110/3200 (PRD 0414)

All posters copyright © Royal Mail Group Ltd courtesy of the British Postal Museum & Archive unless stated otherwise. Contact k.stuckey@arts.ac.uk for more information.
The exhibition runs from 7th October - 4th November 2009 in the Well Gallery, London College of Communication, Elephant and Castle.

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October 2009: Designs on Delivery: GPO Posters from 1930 to 1960

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