The Magnet that Draws the Crowds
Advertisers want to appeal to the widest possible audience to get their message across, so they use the latest in design and language in order to catch the attention of the reader or viewer. This makes the collection a vivid reflection of trends and fashions in the past, and it is a rich source of visual material for historians of graphic design, typography and informal language.
One could examine the selections of colour and lettering, to see what kind of mood the designer evokes. One could also study the evolution of printing methods from letterpress, through relief prints, and chromolithographs to offset printing.
Except for the title picture, these images are presented in chronological order from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.
Barbara Lyon, Ephemera Curator, Alexander Turnbull Library
The magnet that draws the crowds
Headlines shout the message
A rich assortment of typefaces
Pictures and colour
Victorian elegance and style
Exotic Eastern influence
The rich colours of nature
Art nouveau design
Humour and the human form
Patriotic humour in advertising
Appealing to the fashion-conscious
Poster artistry at the Railways Studios
Flat colour blocks for impact
An international firm in a local setting
The romance of the movies
Sergeant Dan, an appealing mascot
A child steals the limelight
Cut-away model
A cartoon treatment
Supernatural escapism
Youth and beauty sells
The reassurance of everyday objects
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