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We’ve just completed digitisation of a small series of interesting General Post Office posters for the BT Archives; all of which hover around the WW2 period (1930s to 1950s).

These were the six remaining items that still required digitisation and generation of suitable access copies, in a larger batch of posters that will be made available through BT Archives’ online catalogue.

“Celebration: Send a greetings telegram” poster, circa 1951 (British Telecommunications Archive reference: PRD 981). Approximate dimensions: 38×25cm.

© 2009 “BT” British Telecommunications plc
All rights reserved.

100% crop showing part of greetings telegram example in the centre

Even though tiny at well under two numerals, this is nevertheless a varied series that encompasses GPO’s wartime propaganda, marketing of the telephone and telegraph services, promotion of the newly built Post Office Tower (now BT Tower) and advertisement of the GPO as an exports driver. Sizes are varied too, ranging from just under A3 to over A1, with one particular specimen measuring in at 146×39cm (approximately).

“GPO helps the export drive” poster, 1948 (BT Archives reference: PRD 514). Approximate dimensions: 71×92cm.

© 2009 “BT” British Telecommunications plc
All rights reserved.

100% extract showing cargo boat in the bottom-left corner

Conscious of the fragility and vulnerability of the posters, BT Archives wanted a conservation-strong workflow that could generate high-resolution facsimiles without eschewing a prerequisite for minimal handling and the use of gentle mechanical intervention. We suggested circumventing the relatively heavy-handed large format scanner approach and recommended employment of overhead capture illumined by cold fluorescent lights and supported by use of conservation-grade resting materials. We also warranted the generation of 16bit RGB colour output and 600 and 300 pixels per inch, respectively for up to and larger than A3 – in the end, we offered 600 and 330ppi, which we identified as suitable resolutions for full retention of information and future re-purposing (i.e. so that diminutive typeset and other facets could be retained in the smaller posters – which were initially printed to be viewed at close distances – and to ensure all crucial information, down to the comparatively small logotypes and text, could be kept in the larger specimens).

“The Observer Corps depends on the telephone”, circa 1943 (BT Archives reference: PRD 268). Approximately 76×51cm.

© 2009 “BT” British Telecommunications plc
All rights reserved.

100% crop showing ‘mirror-effect’ print-through, likely the result of years of folded storage before poster was rehoused in conservation-grade Mylar sleeve at the BT Archives

“Come on the telephone”, circa 1934 (BT Archives reference: PRD 71). Approximately 39×146cm.

© 2009 “BT” British Telecommunications plc
All rights reserved.

For additional information about BT and BT Archives, please visit BT’s general website and BT Archives’ portal.

More about this project and ULCC’s digitisation service can also be found in ULCC’s Digitisation pages.

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