Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Unknown
British Post Office Greetings Telegrams (1935-1978), after various artists

1935-1978

About the Item

British Post Office Greetings Telegrams (1935-1978), after various artists photolithograph dimensions, including frames: 33 x Telegram 9 ¾ x 11 ⅞ in. (24.8 x 30.1 cm.) 31 x Telegram 10 ½ x 12 in. (26.8 x 30.5 cm.) 12 x Telegram 11 ½ x 18 in. (29.2 x 45.7 cm.) and similar 12 x Telegram 9 x 11 ½ in. (22.9 x 29.2 cm.) 1 x Telegram 11 ¾ x 12 ¾ in. (29.8 x 32.4 cm.) 1 x Telegram 9 x 10 ⅜ in. (22.9 x 26.3 cm.) 1 x Telegram 8 x 10 ½ in. (20.3 x 26.7 cm.) A set of ninety-one (91) The historical equivalent of a text or WhatsApp message, the first telegram was sent in code in 1844 from Washington to Baltimore by Samuel Morse, asking “What hath God wrought?” By 1870 (the year that the British General Post Office nationalised the service), more than 3,000,000 telegrams were being sent annually, of which one of the shortest ever was from Oscar Wilde, who, enquiring as to sales for his new book, sent a solitary “?” to his publisher. The response was “!”. To harness new commercial appeal, the Greetings Telegram was introduced in 1935. Costing three pence more than a standard telegram, the initiative was a great success, and nearly 25,000 were sent out in the first week. In 1943, during the Second World War, production of the Greetings Telegram was halted due to paper rationing and exigencies. Upon its reintroduction in 1950, demand was on a steep decline due to the increasing popularity of the telephone, and also the negative association that the telegram had acquired through informing families that their loved ones had been killed or were missing in action. The final British Greetings Telegram was produced in 1978, and the overall service came to an end in the United Kingdom in 1982. As the present collection illustrates, Greetings Telegrams were extremely popular for celebrating special events: from newborn babies to weddings; from Christmas and coronations to Valentine’s day. Indeed, more than 50,000 of Rex Whistler’s Valentine’s design of 1936 were dispatched. The Greetings Telegram was a great way for artists to increase their profile and reach an incredibly broad audience, combining - in a very Warholian manner - mass production, consumerism and art. The artists featured in this collection include Edward Ardizzone, Rex Whistler and John Strickland Goodall. However, the first Greetings Telegram was designed by Mrs Calkin James, a Post Office employee. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY A SMALL SELECTION OF THE GREETINGS TELEGRAMS HAVE BEEN ILLUSTRATED. For a comprehensive listing of the artists, complete illustrations, and further information about the Telegrams, please view my online catalogue.
  • Creation Year:
    1935-1978
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU80612354153
More From This SellerView All
  • The hand of vitality
    Located in London, GB
    dated, inscribed and signed ‘1987/ The Hand/ of/ Vitality/ Deborah/ Schneedbeli/ Morrell’ (on the reverse) bodycolour, card and paper mache 18 ⅞ x 12 ¾ in. (4...
    Category

    1980s Modern Figurative Sculptures

    Materials

    Gouache, Papier Mâché

  • Octoplate
    By Tom Rooth
    Located in London, GB
    The Octopussy with signature on the suckers, and the artist's thumbprint (on the reverse) screenprint on earthenware, with underglaze paint 37 cm. (14 ½ ) diam. 6.1 cm. (2 ⅜ in....
    Category

    2010s Realist More Art

    Materials

    Ceramic, Paint

  • A giant house spider, in a hand-carved spiderweb patterned frame, circa 1880
    By Tom Rooth
    Located in London, GB
    This is a unique and unusual work, by artist Tom Rooth. The spider is drawn with underglaze pencils (pencils made out of ceramic), on a handmade ceramic panel. The handmade frame, wh...
    Category

    2010s Contemporary Mixed Media

    Materials

    Ceramic, Pencil

  • Bee columns, in a water-gilded frame, circa 1870
    By Tom Rooth
    Located in London, GB
    This work was created by Tom Rooth in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales. Production process: Tom makes the ceramic panel, which then dries for a month. After this, he carves it down, and then it goes into the kiln for a 48 hour cycle firing. Tom then draws onto the panel, with underglaze pencils, and then glazes the artwork which goes into the kiln once more, for another 48 hour firing cycle. It is then ready for the frame. Tom has an expert knowledge of frames - his parents were framers and restorers, and he worked at Christie's as Senior Picture Specialist and Director for 14 years. Tom's works are unique, highly decorative, highly original, and will compliment any interior, whether traditional or contemporary. Tom has exhibited at The Treasure House...
    Category

    2010s Realist Mixed Media

    Materials

    Ceramic, Glaze, Pencil

  • Stag beetle, presented in an English, 17th Century hand-carved oak frame
    By Tom Rooth
    Located in London, GB
    This work was created by Tom Rooth in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales, where Tom lives, off-grid. Production process: Tom makes the ceramic panel, which then dries for a month. After this, he carves it down, and then it goes into the kiln for a 48 hour cycle firing. Tom then draws onto the panel, with underglaze pencils, and then glazes the artwork which goes into the kiln once more, for another 48 hour firing cycle. It is then ready for the frame (the frame dictates the subject-matter). Tom has an expert knowledge of frames - his parents were framers and restorers, and he worked at Christie's as Senior Picture Specialist and Director for 14 years, and prior to this Bonhams, Phillips and Sotheby's. Tom's works are unique, highly decorative, highly original, and will compliment any interior, whether traditional or contemporary. Tom has exhibited at The Treasure House...
    Category

    2010s Realist Mixed Media

    Materials

    Ceramic, Glaze, Pencil

  • Homage to a toad - underglaze pencil on ceramic
    By Tom Rooth
    Located in London, GB
    This work was created by Tom Rooth in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales. A colony of toads live under and around his cottage, and in the summer nights (particularly when going to the kiln late at night to close the vent), Tom often encounters them. They have lived there for generations. Production process: Tom makes the ceramic panel, which then dries for a month. After this, he carves it down, and then it goes into the kiln for a 48 hour cycle firing. Tom then draws onto the panel, with underglaze pencils, and then glazes the artwork which goes into the kiln once more, for another 48 hour firing cycle. It is then ready for the frame (the frame dictates the subject-matter). Tom has an expert knowledge of frames - his parents were framers and restorers, and he worked at Christie's as Senior Picture Specialist and Director for 14 years, and prior to this Bonhams, Phillips and Sotheby's. Tom's works are unique, highly decorative, highly original, and will compliment any interior, whether traditional or contemporary. Tom has exhibited at The Treasure House...
    Category

    2010s Realist Mixed Media

    Materials

    Ceramic, Glaze, Pencil

You May Also Like
  • Still life with Journal and Flowers - Lithograph and Stencil, 1959
    By Fernand Léger
    Located in Paris, FR
    Fernand LÉGER Still life with Journal and Flowers, 1959 Original lithograph and stencil Printed signature in the plate On vellum Auvergne 50,2 x 40 cm (c. 19,7 x 15,7 Inches) Publ...
    Category

    1950s Modern Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph, Stencil

  • Rachel Hides her Father's Housold Gods - Lithograph by Marc Chagall - 1960
    By Marc Chagall
    Located in Roma, IT
    Rachel hides her father's housold gods  is a an artwork from the Series "The Bible", realized by Marc Chagall in 1960. Mixed colored lithograph on brown-toned paper, no signature. ...
    Category

    1960s Modern Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Lying Woman - Original vintage lithograph poster, Maeght 1966
    By Francis Bacon
    Located in Paris, FR
    Francis BACON (after) Lying Woman Original vintage lithograph poster On heavy paper 71 x 45 cm (c. 28 x 18 inch) This lithograph was created for the arti...
    Category

    1960s Modern Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Seated Nude
    By Richard Diebenkorn
    Located in Laguna Beach, CA
    A highly influential mid-century American artist, Richard Diebenkorn is known for his abstract landscape paintings, in particular, the "Ocean Park" series, which he exhibited when re...
    Category

    1960s American Modern Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Majesty Gathering - Lithograph by Hégésippe Moreau - Early 20th Century
    Located in Roma, IT
    Majesty Gathering is a lithograph on paper realized by Hégésippe Moreau in 1838. The artwork is in good conditions. Hégésippe Moreau (1810-1838) was a French lyric poet. The romant...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

  • Prisoner - Lithograph by Hégésippe Moreau - Early 20th Century
    Located in Roma, IT
    Prisoner is a lithograph on paper realized by Hégésippe Moreau in 1838. The artwork is in good conditions. Hégésippe Moreau (1810-1838) was a French lyric poet. The romantic myth w...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Prints

    Materials

    Lithograph

Recently Viewed

View All