1978 Athena Poster

30/6466 One Of The Silly Sort Of Mistakes One Makes

Artist; William Heath Robinson (1872 - 1944)

Poster Approximate Size 90 x 64 cm (This is the print size which would then normally be cut down to 89 x 60cm for retail).

One Of The Silly Sort Of Mistakes One Makes When It Snows In Scotland By William Heath Robinson is a whimsical picture in which a golfer mistakes the Tam o' Shanter's Toorie, belonging to a man buried in the snow, for a golf ball.

William Heath Robinson was an English cartoonist, illustrator and artist, best known for drawings of whimsically elaborate machines to achieve simple objectives. The term "Heath Robinson contraption" which had gained recognition as a noun from around 1912, was cited in the Oxford English Dictionary of 1917, becoming part of popular language during the 1914–1918 First World War as a description of any unnecessarily complex and implausible contrivance. A "Heath Robinson contraption" is perhaps most commonly used in relation to temporary fixes using ingenuity and whatever is to hand, often string and tape, or unlikely cannibalisations, to "Heath Robinson It". Its continuing popularity was undoubtedly linked to Britain's shortages during the Second World War and the need to "make do and mend".

Original Athena Poster Not A Reprint. Athena Copyright Details In Bottom Left Hand Corner.

These posters have a glossy finish and play havoc photographing under fluorescent lights, done my best to show the quality of poster.

This vintage poster is in a good presentable condition. As to be expected with long term storage, there is some light creasing/bruising, nibbles and slight tears to the left hand edge, however, this can be easily hidden on careful framing, see pictures. The poster has never been mounted, so no tape or blue tack marks or drawing pin holes, but has been stored rolled up since the year it was printed. Any questions, please ask before making your purchase.

This poster was never designed to be anything more than temporary wall art at the time, usually taped or pinned to a wall. Never mounted or framed its great it is still around, so don't buy a modern copy, own an original.

Athena, a British art retailer and retail chain, was founded by Ole Christensen, his first shop first shop opening in Hampstead, London in July 1964. Bought by E&O, the Athena retail estate was expanded to 60 shops, continuing with the ethos of fine art reprints. The retail chain was sold off by E&O in 1977 to the Pentos Group and Athena went into administration in 1995. Some profitable stores were reopened by their former franchisees, the last of these, an outlet in Exeter, Devon ceased trading in 2014. Athena posters would have been ubiquitous on student walls during their time, with iconic posters such as Long Distance Kiss by Syd Brak, The Lord of the Rings by Jimmy Cauty and The Tennis Girl poster. Athena also produced fine art prints from artists as diverse as Ivan Lackovic & Ha Van Vuong. The company's popularist success divided opinion, their critics challenging such works were too vulgar and populist to be considered art.

The Curwen Press, founded by Reverend John Curwen in 1863 was based in Plaistow, London, England, initially to publish sheet music, the output included books, advertising posters and published ephemera. John's grandson, Harold, fostered the use of contemporary independent artists to significantly enhance printed matter for publicity purposes. The reputation of Curwen Press grew substantially in the years 1919 to 1939. The Press was bombed several times during the second world war, and the building was rebuilt substantially after the war. The store of lithographic plates was destroyed in the Blitz. In 1958 Herbert Simon established the Curwen Studio, a permanent professional studio to provide both artists and publishers with facilities that were pioneering and long overdue in Britain at that time. It supported an era of British avant-garde printmaking that lasted decades, and further cemented the Curwen name as synonymous with fine art and printing. Commissioned artists included sculptors such as Elizabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, alongside a new younger generation of artists who wanted to explore the lithograph medium which Harold Curwen had championed decades earlier. In 1977, the Tate Gallery held an exhibition called Artists at Curwen: A Celebration of the Gift of Artists' Prints from the Curwen Studio. Curwen Press printed much of the Athena output. The Curwen Press closed in 1984. The site was redeveloped and a nearby Primary School maintains the Curwen name.

Sent Royal Mail 48 Tracked in strong purpose made cardboard postal tube with plastic cap ends. Unfortunately I cannot offer same day dispatch or next day delivery but happy to combine orders to save on postage. Postage charge represents postage and cost of postal tube.

For overseas buyers, eBay's Global Shipping Program does not combine parcels to arrive at their postal costs but treats each individually when calculating the overseas shipping. To get the best deal on postage let me know which items you would like to combine and I can create a new listing with correct parcel weight and dimensions so the GSP can quote the correct postage to your destination.

For collection orders, cash on collection please.