Airmail

Posters advertising airmail and telephone services were among the Post Office's early "selling" commissions. As a government department the promotion of Post Office services should be done, according to Stephen Tallents, only with regard to their "social and economic usefulness". These posters were produced in double crown size, suitable for smaller display frames in Post Offices and also for the sides of vans.

In Into the Air, modernist visual forms were adopted to promote the Post Office's own technological developments. Influenced by information graphics and the idea of a global visual language of communications, the increasing volumes of airmail deliveries are displayed in pictorial form. Describing his method as "drawing not what you see, but what you think" Theyre Lee Elliott used repeated geometric elements to reinforce the message.

Edward McKnight Kauffer and Lee Elliott both incorporated a bird in flight in airmail commissions. Quickest Way by Airmail was selected by the Poster Advisory Group from two designs presented by McKnight Kauffer in July 1934. That year Lee Elliott was commissioned by Imperial Airways to design a bird in flight symbol for the company. Also produced in blue and white, this became standard for airmail labels.

Into the Air

designed by Theyre Lee Elliott, 1935 (POST 110/2487)

This was the first airmail "selling" poster approved by the advisory group in May 1934. Influenced by information graphics and the idea of a global visual language, the increasing volumes of airmail deliveries are displayed in pictorial form.

Quickest Way by Airmail

designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer, c. 1935 (POST 110/2488)

The interplay between fine art and design is evident in Quickest Way by Airmail which was selected by the Poster Advisory Group in July 1934 from two "roughs". McKnight Kauffer moved in fine art circles and was interested in the ideas of the British avant-garde movement, Vorticism.

Send your overseas parcels by Air mail

designed by Peter Huveneers, 1954 (POST 110/3220)

This poster can be seen displayed behind the glass door in Saxmunham Post Office in the black and white photo above.