Poster, Poster : publicity book issued by : The 'Boro Billposting Company : London : nd [c.1935] : 12 - the Strongest reason (2)

This must be one of the most lavish publicity books issued regarding British poster design in the inter-war period. The 'Boro Billposting Company were a major player in both the production and display of advertising posters and, as this book shows, they had the capacity to design, produce and fix posters across many sites in both London and the 'Provinces'. At the time of publication 'Boro were part of the Odhams Press Ltd., having purchased them from the founder A.E. Abrahams in 1920, and this must have enabled significant synergies in design and printing. The book gives twelve reasons why poster advertising 'pays' and then looks at the production line of a poster, through intial design, artwork and pritning before discussing the positioning on hoardings of different types, suited to various campaigns.

 

The company had some major agencies and clients on their books and various still familiar brands and names are shown here. The book uses touched up photographs, of many fascinating London streetscenes, and illustrations in colour to display the power of design in poster art. The latter are all by Reginald Mount (1906 - 1979) a noted British poster designer and artist who would in wartime work for the Ministry of Information and later be associated with the agency "Artist Partners". In the 1930s Mount worked freelance for various agencies including Odhams and that is, I suspect, the reason for the appearance of his works here.

 

The book is not dated and there may be other ediitons? This appears to be mid-1930s by the style and photography; London Transport makes an appearance and the organisation was formed in 1933. At the time of publication 'Boro were based in Ranelagh Rd, SW1 and the general manager was Norman Smith.

 

To complete the double spread streetscene we see the continuation of the 'Boro hoardings and posters for Karpol and Haig whisky.

Done