Retro Graphic Design +

Soviet Era Advertising

I found these images on a Russian site called EnglishRussia, in a post on Russian Commercial Advertising.

We often get to see the propaganda posters from this era, but rarely get to see everyday commercial advertising…Read more

A Children’s Colouring Book – Cicra 1930

I found this charming colouring book in an antique store recently. It is about 20 pages, and obviously some advertising ephemera from  “Oxo” (English food brand).

By the style of illustration, subject matter, and colours used I’m…Read more

Graphic Arts Advertisement 1971

This ad just blows me away.

The images are from a superb 4 page spread in the Advertisement section of the Penrose Annual 1971, Vol 64 which I just managed to get hold of.

Breathtaking. Good…Read more

Swiss Matchbox Labels 1

It’s quite a while since I have posted any matchbox labels, so thought I would do a few posts from quite a large collection of Swiss matchbox labels I purchased a while ago.

I culled about 70% of them…Read more

Vintage Pharmacy Packaging Design – Part 3

..But wait..there’s more. Well 2 more posts – this and a final post tomorrow of these amazing frozen-in-time examples of Pharmacy packaging design from the early 20th Century.

When I first bought the box of…Read more

Torres Blancas – Madrid 1964 – via Aujord’hui Art et Architecture no.53

I can see that I am going to have to do several more posts in the future - on some of the amazing mid-century Architecture featured in Aujord’hui Art et Architecture no.53 – such is…Read more

"Aujord’hui Art et Architecture" Part 2

One of the best Architectural articles in this edition, is of the Museum of Modern Art in Rio De Janero under construction. Unfortunately most of the black and white photos in the volume are…Read more

Typography in Art – Part 1

This post is all about “Type in Art” as featured in an article in  ”The Penrose Annual” (of graphic design) 1965 edited by Herbert Spencer and published by Lund Humphries, London.  (see previous post for a…Read more

Typography in Art – Part 2

Continuing on from the last post on Type in Art from an article written by Jasia Reichart for The Penrose Annual, 1965. After the introduction, Jasia moves on to Writers, Poets and Artists using Typography as…Read more

Anatomical Illustrations

“The Missing Link” - is the title of a fascinating and beautifully illustrated article in the Penrose Annual 1965, written by Germano Facetti. It is about the traditions of anatomical illustration and why we inherited (to…Read more

Glorious Machinery Catalogue Illustrations 1915

 
 
…Read more

Vintage Fruit & Vegetable Labels

I picked up these fantastic examples of mid-century labelling on eBay recently. These pieces were designed to go on the produce crates,  and are printed by the lithographic process – which gives such wonderful areas…Read more

Vintage Drink Labels 1/3

I’m not sure if this was the case in other countries or not, but here in Australia up until about the late 1970′s many regional areas, and larger country towns had their own soft drink…Read more

Vintage Soft Drink Labels – 3/3

Really like the first one here, almost an Art Deco feel to it.. Also like the black, yellow and red soda label and the great colour combinations on the ginger beer label….Read more

Litho Advertisment in 4 colours 1956

This wonderful Advertisment for GATEWAY PAPERS is on a 6 page fold-out in the Penrose Annual 1956. Litho printed in 4 colours. I love the colours and use of transperancy which creates such a…Read more

Illustrations of the Year 1956 Penrose Annual, No.2 of 5

Within the section of “Illustrations of the year” in the Penrose Annual 1956 is a subsection of the best work from students of the London School or Printing and Graphic Arts. I think (understandably) it…Read more

Russell Mills – British Artist, Designer, Illustrator

“Still Life/Nature Morte NYC”
Art Director Mike van Joel, Client New Styles
Mixed Media Collage 11.25″ x 7.75″
Published in Black and White
I first discovered the work of Russell Mills only a few months ago, when in…Read more

British Post Office Ephemera 1950′s

These examples of  British Post Office Posters, Covers and Ephemera  are from an article written by Misha Black O.B.E. in The Penrose Annual 1956. An interesting snapshot of a completely different world of communication.

There isn’t much information in the article worth…Read more

The Graphic Design of William Nicholson

The images and background information in this post are gleaned from a beautifully written and illustrated article in The Penrose Annual, 1956 entitled “The Graphic Designs of William Nicholson”, written by Lynton Lamb – a significant graphic…Read more

Harold Curwen – Master Printer

These days most of us would have little idea of the role of a Master Printer, and apart from Master Printers for Fine Art and high end printmaking runs for Artists, the Master Printer’s…Read more

Ole Caterina – 1950′s Album Cover

What a bright way to wind up the week (well here anyway!) a mid-century album cover with an awful lot going on – Colour, Movement, Pattern, Photography – the works – OLE!

Ole Caterina!
Caterina Valenta,…Read more

World Record Club – Lance Stirling

I’m SO happy that I’m finally able to attribute the designer of the Album Cover (first image) that has had more hits and re-blogs than any other image on my entire blog, since obtaining a copy of  the book ”It’s Another…Read more

Advertising – Russian Matchbox Labels

 Lovely bold, simple effective and clean graphics on these Russian Matchbox Adevertising Labels I bought on eBay a few weeks ago – they seem to be from around the late 1960′s. They have that unidentifiable eastern European feel…Read more

American Graphic Design 1956 – Part 1

In the Penrose Annual, 1956 is an interesting and comprehensive, (although very wordy as was the style then) article on American Graphic Design written by Peter Selze and Robert Kostka. It has a number of…Read more

American Graphic Design 1956 – Part 2

In the article on American Graphic Design in the Penrose Annual 1956, Selz and Kostka initially discuss the influence of Painting and Architecture on Graphic Design, and then go on to discuss ‘current’ influences…Read more

World Record Club – Gilbert and Sullivan Album Covers

During the 1960′s in Melbourne, some of Australia’s best designers showcased their skill and talent by Illustrating World Record Club covers. Amongst the best are a series of Gilbert & Sullivan recordings which demonstrate…Read more

French Illustration 1955, Part 1- Illustration Francais

There is a superbly illustrated and well written article in the Penrose Annual 1955 which I will be focussing on over the next few posts entitled ”Entente Cordiale” – written by Charles Rosner. It is…Read more

French Illustration 1955, Part 2 – Illustration Francais

Continuing on from the previous post with more of the superb graphic design and illustration from the article by Charles Rosner entitled “Entente Cordiale” in the Penrose Annual of 1955.   Rosner goes on to discuss the…Read more

French Illustration 1955, Part 4 – Illustration Francais

To wind up this series of French Illustrations from the 1955 Article by Charles Rosner in the Penrose Annual, here are some more delightful posters used in the article, including two of my favourite Artists from…Read more

Bernard Villemot Poster Art

The posts on French Poster Art last week led me to look around and find out a bit more about some of the Artists featured…starting with Bernard Villemot (1911–1989)

Michelle at Gallerie Montmarte in Melbourne kindly…Read more

World Record Club Melbourne – Athol Shmith Photography

A number of studio photographers were engaged by the World Record Club during its operation, but Athol Shmith was by far the most notable of all.

Athol Shmith (1914-1990) was already a living legend by the time the…Read more

I see Red – Advertisements from 1955

I think there is  something that draws us to vintage advertisements from all eras – sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes because of the design, and sometimes through a sense of  nostalgia for a simpler…Read more

More Superb Ads from 1955

To finish off the week, what better than some more of the superbly designed and printed advertisements from the Penrose Annual 1955.

I could probably go on for a few weeks with these as there…Read more

Album Covers – “Rollin’ West” – Cowboy Songs – World Record Club

Today, another great WRC album cover I recently came across.  This one unfortunately I can’t attribute a designer to, but it is part of a number of WRC Album Covers from this period where…Read more

Soviet Matchbox Labels – The Atomic Age – 1965

I picked up these wonderful matchbox labels with their cool graphics from eBay recently.

They are all from 1965 in celebration or promotion of the Atomic age and all it could potentially bring to the USSR.

There are…Read more

Tom Eckersley – A 1976 Tribute

The Penrose Annual of 1976 has a profile article on the work of Tom Eckersley, written by Rene Elvin. It is a tribute to the work of at the time Britain’s greatest living poster…Read more

7 Glorious Vintage Food Labels

These labels are almost good enough to eat!. Luxurious colours, luscious fruit and great design.

These vintage Australian food labels appear to be from around the 1940′s and 1950′s – I found them at an…Read more