H: 76.5cm (30.12in)
W: 92cm (36.22in)
D: 0.15cm (0.06in)
Period: 1920s

Edward Lloyd launched Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper in 1842. It was the first of three popular papers to be created for those who only had spare time to read on Sundays. The paper was a big success and on 16 February 1896, Lloyd’s Weekly became the only British newspaper in the nineteenth century to sell more than a million copies. Sadly Lloyd passed away in April 1890 and without his guidance the newspaper success started to decline - with the paper was bought out in 1918 and it limped on until 1931 when it eventually folded. 

This sign is a lovely early example, bright colours, stylish typography and enthusiastic strap-lines. The sign was produced by Garner & Co of 86 Farringdon Street and bears their mark in the lower right corner. As well as all the aesthetics of the sign indicating it's early 20th century creation, the newspaper's history helps to narrow down it's date of production - the papers name changed from Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper to Lloyd’s Weekly News in 1902 and to Lloyd’s Sunday News in 1918. Lloyd’s was dropped in 1924. My understanding is that 'Lloyd's News, Sunday Edition' as seen on this sign was probably run between 1918-1924. 

The sign does bear some damage (as is generally inevitable given it's age) - there are a number of areas of enamel loss and it the subsequent exposed/corroded metal seems to have been ground away, which actually lessens the visual impact as well as making the sign less susceptible to further corrosion. The screw holes remain structurally sound and the whole thing sits reasonably flat. The colours remain bright, though the black background has gone slightly 'milky' in areas.

The sign is 92cm wide, 76.5cm high and around 15mm deep.