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In pictures

Empire Marketing Board posters

The Empire Marketing Board was established in 1926 to stimulate trade in the British Empire and to encourage consumers to buy goods from Britain’s colonies and dominions. The Board produced a range of striking posters to present idyllic views of the Empire.

‘Suez Canal’ by Charles Pears

A painted view down the Suez Canal from the perspective of the crew of a ship
Date
1927–1933

This poster depicts a ship sailing through the Suez Canal in Egypt. It was designed by Charles Pears, an artist and poster designer who specialised in maritime subjects. He also produced posters for London Underground and various railway companies.

‘Motor Manufacturing’ by Clive Gardiner

A blocky, abstract painting of men working on large machines
Date
1927–1933

This poster depicts workers involved in motor manufacturing. It was designed by artist Clive Gardiner who took inspiration from futurism and cubism to communicate the energy and power of the factory.

The poster was part of a campaign initiated by the Empire Marketing Board to promote the manufacturing success of the British Empire.

‘John Bull and Sons (1928) Ltd.’ by H S Williamson

A painting of the front of a grocers' shop with customers looking at an array of produce
Date
1928

This 1928 poster was created to encourage consumers to buy produce from the British Empire, by depicting a warm view of crowds shopping at the patriotic-sounding John Bull & Sons greengrocer.

All of the colourful produce piled outside is labelled with countries of origin and signs announce ‘the Empire is your garden’ and ‘ask for home grown fruit’.

The poster was designed by artist H S Williamson, who also produced designs for London Transport and the General Post Office.

‘Highways of Empire’ by Macdonald Gill

A map of the world with the British Empire marked in red and lines representing trade routes
Date
1927

This poster, produced in 1927 by the Empire Marketing Board, was intended to depict the United Kingdom as at the centre of a vast international empire. It was designed by well-known graphic designer Macdonald Gill, who had become famous for his ‘Wonderground Map of London Town’ which was first displayed in 1914.

‘Highways of Empire’ was originally displayed on an advertising hoarding 20 feet long and ten feet high in Charing Cross in London. It was hugely popular when first unveiled, so much so that smaller reprints were produced and sold to the general public.

Recipe poster for the Empire Christmas Pudding by F C Harrison

A poster of text listing the ingredients for Christmas pudding
Date
1927–1933

This poster was part of an unusual campaign initiated by the Empire Marketing Board to promote the ‘Empire Christmas pudding’, a recipe for Christmas pudding which celebrated the produce of the British Empire. The idea originated with a recipe written by King George V’s chef André Cédard.

This poster, designed by F C Harrison, listed the necessary ingredients and their countries of origin in order to show consumers how they could make their own Christmas pudding using only ingredients that originated in British colonies and dominions.