Artist and pictorial map maker Kerry Lee created two distinctive maps of London, both of which were revised and adapted over a 20 year period, between the late 1930s and mid 1950s. This is his second - 'London - The Bastion of Liberty' it was drawn in 1946 and printed by Chromoworks Ltd for the Travel Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

The poster is rich with historical, architectural and literary detail, it celebrates the capital’s survival and symbolic wartime role. Lee chose a quote by Churchill; "We would rather see London in ruins and ashes than that it should be tamely and abjectly enslaved." A vignette in the upper part of the map commemorates the role of Civil Defence workers during the Blitz. It was marketed overseas (especially in America) by the Travel Association of Great Britain, and their logo appears beneath Churchill’s words.

 

This poster is framed in a wonderfully chunky, period dark wood (oak?) frame and glazed. It looks to have been in this frame most, if not all, of it's life and this has kept it in very good order. There is some yellowing, marking to the paper - probably from the wooden backboard but this adds to it's vintage charms without impacting on the legibility of the piece. 

 

It measures 131.5cm wide x 106cm high x 4.5cm deep - a real statement piece. 

 

S/N: #0886