- 'MIND THE GAP' TAKES ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT MEANING IF YOU ARE A LADY WEARING A CRINOLINE DRESS! -

KELL BROTHERS (Victorian art publishers who specialised in chromolithography, based in Holborn, London, active mid-19th century); BAKER STREET UNDERGROUND STATION (a London Underground station at the junction of Baker Street and the Marylebone Road in the City of Westminster,  one of the original stations of the Metropolitan Railway (MR), the world's first underground railway, which opened on 10 January 1863).

'Metropolitan Railway / Baker Street Station'.

Original large arch-topped chromolithograph, with original hand-applied colouring and gum arabic, Laid down to original thick card mount, with lettering in pale green beneath the image, including publisher's details 'Kell Bros. Chromo Litho, Catle St., Holborn', and title 'Metropolitan Railway / Baker Street Station'. No date, but acknowledged to be c1863. Size: whole sheet - 78cm x 56.9cm / print - 59.2cm x 38cm. Must be sent flat-packed.

Very Good condition. Colours bright and vivid. Small chips to left and right lower corners of the board, well away from the engraving. Light wear along top edge of board. Tiny abrasion to lower right side of engraving, otherwise there are no obvious scratches or marks to the surface of the chromo itself, save for two very small spots of foxing in the foreground on the right side. The card mount with pale foxing. Very pale shadow line around the image from a previous mount. A few very small and almost invisible white touch-ups to mount. Brown streaking / marking to rear caused by old acidic backing board, now discarded. and thankfully the card mount is so thick that the print has been totally unaffected by this. The front of the print is in generally very nice condition. Please ask if you require a more detailed condition report, or view gallery images.

'Mind the gap' takes on a whole different meaning if you are a lady wearing a crinoline dress! 

This stunning and rare chromolithograph by the Kell Brothers was published shortly after the opening of the new Baker Street underground station in 1863. The coloured chromolithograph is further enhanced with original hand-colouring and gum arabic, giving the print an attractive gleam on close inspection. 

We love this print for the incongruity it presents, with the finely dressed Victorian passengers and the pristine facade of the platform, standing in stark contrast to the station's 21st century appearance.