Country life- The Coronation, 1953
(Source: houseofwindsor)
“Gyro” screen-printed wallpaper, designed by June Lyon, produced by John Line, c.1953. Used in the Departure Lounge at London Airport, which was designed by Frederick Gibberd. From the amazing Twentieth-Century Pattern Design by Lesley Jackson, 2002
(via atompunk)
From the lurid pulp stylings art of this book cover printed in 1953 this seems to be Frankenstein as if the cast was envisioned as poor Southern trash in a play written by Tennessee Williams. Scarcity of good copies of this printing demand high prices from collectors. The absurd juxtaposition of Gothic story with poorly chosen cover styling kept the book in the more adult sections of stores and out of the hands of the younger readers, probably hurting overall sales.
The art is proficient and on any other book would have been better served. There are certain design, layout and prop features of the pulp and paperback book eras that are more appealing than others a bonus for collectors is the element of the “Yellow Dress” worn by the Monster’s victim on the cover.
The original novel was written by Mary Shelley and due to gender politics of the era was published anonymously in 1818. From thematic over-exposure and desensitization of the subjects within the book over time Frankenstein is considered somewhat juvenile fare today. But for it’s time the story was shocking.
The story of Shelley’s life is fascinating, sad and full of intrigue and drama. Mary Shelley died at age 53 from what is believed to have been a brain tumor.
I love the fifties pulp covers of literary classics.
(via atompunk)
Stalin Kicked The Bucket by Ray Anderson [1953]
“He died with a hemorrhage in the brain, they have a new fireman on the devil’s train”(HT Bopping via Pietist Schoolman)
![ayjay:
Another superb example
The 1953 edition [of Aldous Huxley’s 1932 book] from Bantam with art by Charles Binger.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mckvfic94B1qz4v5ho1_400.jpg)
Another superb example
The 1953 edition [of Aldous Huxley’s 1932 book] from Bantam with art by Charles Binger.
The present wave of memorabilia for the Queens Golden Jubilee brought to mind a piece of memorabilia that caused a sensation in Barnsley in the Coronation Year of 1953. The Barnsley British Cooperative Society decided to present its own tribute to the new monarch. Every other item of memorabilia had a picture of the Queen on but in the opinion of The Barnsley British Cooperative Society , there was a person who outranked the Queen as far as The Barnsley British Cooperative Society was concerned and that was Mr H.Wilde JP, the President of The Barnsley British Cooperative Society
Accordingly the picture on the tea caddy was of Mr H. Wilde JP, the top and two other sides extolled the virtues of The Barnsley British Cooperative Society and as a grudging gesture to the Royal Occasion on the back was a small picture of Windsor Castle.It caused an uproar in Barnsley and rang down the years long enough for me to mention to my daughter last week who discovered they are still being sold on E-Bay!!
Addendum
I went to school with the son of Mr H.Wilde. JP so got to know all about the families reaction to the uproar. While I’m name dropping I was at school with Michael Parkinson (Chat show host) and Brian Glover (Actor, famously ‘Kes’). These fade into insignificance against my late Father in Law who went to Wakefield Grammar and was in the same class as Haigh, the Acid Bath Murderer. I knew a murderer quite well as we lived next door to his Aunt and Uncle. I remember going round with his Aunt getting signatures on a petition for a reprieve but he still got hung.
Queen Elizabeth II leaving Westminster Abbey after her coronation, June 1953
