Friday, July 17, 2009

The Wayback View – Printshop advertising in 1923

Since the beginning of the printing industry, printshops have advertised their services to print buyers - often with familiar themes.

Click images to enlarge

W.G. Briggs & Co. capitalizes on the fad for collectible postage stamp sized advertising stickers to attract the eye of potential customers.
The Rembrandt Intaglio Printing Company Ltd. addresses the issue of consistency through the run - a major concern for all print buyers – while reminding them that print quality can only be as good as the art they are given to work with. Their print sample is a duotone run at a very respectable 300 lpi.Interestingly the Rembrandt Intaglio Printing Company Ltd. was founded by Viennese engraver Karel Klic the inventor of the photogravure process in 1879.
Karel Klic (1841-1926)

The Abbey Press Ltd. extolls the beauty of the art they work with while reminding the reader that, while they currently work with first-class customers, they would be glad for the opportunity to work with you.
WH Smith was, and still is, a big box supplier of stationary, office equipment, and books. Here they promote their association with The Arden Press to deliver a variety of print material – perhaps somewhat in competition with their customers.

Dutch Intaglio Printers extoll the quality of their screenless/continuous tone 3/C process printing. In this case, the collotype process delivers fidelity on par with contemporary 20-micron FM screening.
St. Clements Press Ltd. offers creative services, perhaps in competition with some of their customers, to provide a complete solution.
Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd. takes a merry seasonal approach while providing timely advice that "...the Printer, of all craftsmen, must trim the sails of his "craft" to catch the timely breeze of public demand."

No comments:

Post a Comment