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To the Far East by P&O
To the Far East by P&O

To the Far East by P&O

Artist
Publisher (British, founded 1837)
Maker
Date1910
Object number00006902
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
DimensionsOverall: 950 × 620 mm
Copyright© P&O Heritage
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
Collections
DescriptionThis travel poster advertising Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) services to the Far East was designed by R G W Bush in 1910. The poster features the SS MALOJA steaming through calm waters. The work is typical of advertising during this period listing services and incorporating an illustrative ship portrait set en route. This style gradually disappeared by the late 1940s, to be replaced by more conceptual designs.HistoryP&O was founded in 1837 when the partnership of Wilcox and Anderson secured a contract to carry the mails from the UK to the peninsular ports Vigo, Oporto, Lisbon, Cadiz and Gibraltar. In 1840 the company secured a new contract to extend the service to Alexandria in Egypt, and in 1844 this contract was extended to Madras, Ceylon, Calcutta, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. P&O established the Far East route to Australia in the 1850s, when it took over from less efficient services such as the East India Company. The work is typical of that produced during this period listing services and incorporating a ship portrait. As ships became more streamlined and powerful companies commissioned state of the art design work that emphasised a more Modernist style. P&O established this significant route to Australia in the 1850s when it took over from less efficient services such as the East India Company.SignificanceThe poster is representative of the transition between traditional ship portrait compositions popular in the early 20th century and later Modernist-inspired designs. It is also an important document recording one of the ways in which travel was marketed to both national and international audiences.