P&O Royal Mail Liners : The Australasian Pictorial Annual 1 October 1934
Artist
Alan P Rigby
(1901 - 1966)
Publisher
The Australasian Pictorial Annual
DateOctober 1934
Object number00001879
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
DimensionsOverall: 580 x 410 mm
Image: 345 x 285 mm
Image: 345 x 285 mm
Copyright© P&O Heritage
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
Collections
DescriptionThis travel poster promoting P&O (Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company) Royal Mail Liners was designed by Alan P Rigby in 1934, and published in 'The Australasian Pictorial Annual' in October 1934. The poster features an image of the P&O liner STRATHNAVER, emphasising the power, modernity and sheer size of the P&O fleet.HistoryBetween 1931 and 1938 the shipping line P&O launched five new 20,000 tonne liners collectively known as 'The Straths'. The 22,547 tonne STRATHNAVER was the first, constructed by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow in 1932. The ship operated an Australian service until it was broken up in Hong Kong in 1962. STRATHNAVER was the first liner to substitute P&O's traditional black hull with a white hull and upper works. The livery was designed to reflect a new degree of energy, speed and beauty, and was embraced by all subsequent P&O ships. The Straths were also nicknamed 'The White Sisters'.SignificanceThe poster is an important document recording one of the ways in which travel was marketed to both Australian and international audiences. It is representative of early 20th century design trends and the significant role of Modernism in popular culture.
