Page 165 - Swann Galleries - Modernist Posters - Sale 2314 - May 13, 2013

MANFRED REISS (1922-1987)
203 ● BE COURTEOUS. Circa 1955.
291/2x19 inches, 75x48 1/4 cm. Loxley Bros. Ltd.
Condition B / B+: Extensive wrinkling and bubbling in image; repaired tears at edges; metal grommets in corners.
Born in Germany, Reiss and his family emigrated to Britain in 1937, where he went on to become a
prominent graphic designer. By the late-1940s and early-1950s, he was one of the most prolific British
poster designers. His major clients were the General Post Office and the Post Office Savings Bank, but
he also worked for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Reiss’ posters are always cleanly
designed and easy to understand, often composed of simple drawings with a photomontage or
photographed elements, plus a touch of humor. Here, in a kind and gentle manner, he suggests that
cyclists should not only stop for pedestrians, but should smile and bow as well. [400/600]
TOM ECKERSLEY (1914-1997)
204 ● BE FIRST NOT LAST / TRAVEL EARLY SHOP EARLY POST EARLY. 1955.
40x25 inches, 1011/2x631 /2 cm.
Condition B+: tears at edges; creases and abrasions in margins and image. Paper.
Eckersley spent most of his pre-war career working with his old school friend Eric Lombers. Their work
together for such prominent companies as Shell, the General Post Office and the BBC was marked by
pronounced modernist influences. During the war Eckersley worked as a cartographer for the British Air
Force and also produced “war effort” posters. After the war he worked free-lance with major clients like
the General Post Office. He also founded the Graphic Design Department at the London College of
Printing. Here, he employs a “visual gag” of the type made popular in the 1950s by Raymond Savignac.
In fact, in 1951, Sauvignac used a similar humorous zebra to advertise Cinzano. Eckersley takes the gag
one step further, showing two people dressed as a horse, where the man in front is happy to have sent
his parcels early, versus the man in back is who is not. Modern British Posters p. 103 (var), GPO p. 65.
[500/750]
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