Railway Posters 1923-1947: From the Collection of the National Railway Museum, York

Rating:
Summary: A Good Poster Speaks for Itself
Review: This volume immediately moved onto my all-time favorites list. It is chockablock with color illustrations of wonderful British railway posters from that medium's golden age, the creation of the Big Four in 1923 until their nationalization effective January 1, 1948. A book simply stuffed with posters would have been sufficient, but the authors have placed the works of art in their appropriate historical and cultural context, and added to a poster lover's knowledge with interesting asides on artists and their subjects. (The authors both work as curators for the National Railway Museum's extensive poster collection, a job that seems the rough equivalent of dying and going to heaven every Monday through Friday.) There is one serious criticism to be offered: I see no reason why the book should not have been at least twice as long.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Poster Speaks for Itself
Review: This volume immediately moved onto my all-time favorites list. It is chockablock with color illustrations of wonderful British railway posters from that medium's golden age, the creation of the Big Four in 1923 until their nationalization effective January 1, 1948. A book simply stuffed with posters would have been sufficient, but the authors have placed the works of art in their appropriate historical and cultural context, and added to a poster lover's knowledge with interesting asides on artists and their subjects. (The authors both work as curators for the National Railway Museum's extensive poster collection, a job that seems the rough equivalent of dying and going to heaven every Monday through Friday.) There is one serious criticism to be offered: I see no reason why the book should not have been at least twice as long.