Bali packaging

A and I have just come back from a holiday in Bali.

A lot of the graphic design on the packaging of everyday goods was quite charming and exuberant. Here are a few things that I liked best:

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Pudding rice, not sure what the link to cats is. Incidentally the cat on the right has blue eyes, which I don't think can occur in nature.

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Package of nuts, the cardboard outer box is very nice, if quite poorly printed (the red has splattered into the logo). I like the tiny photo next to the logo.

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Vanilla packaging (tiny)

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 Mini pot of glue

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Handsome floral gift, I like the colours (perhaps slightly more vivid in real life than the photo).

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I like the economy of the packaging - any of five different types of biscuit can be within, all with different barcodes. Incidentally this makes it rather difficult for the cashier to scan it at the checkout - she tried to cover all the other barcodes with her fingers, but ended up having to type the number in manually. There's some sort of lesson there...

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There were several pencils that were marked like this ("For Computer") not sure why / how this pencil is for computer...

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Onslows poster auction

Onslow's are having their summer poster auction soon, here are some that caught my eye.

This is apparently a safety warning poster for railway workers (not sure if it's to do with the blackout, or perhaps not standing between carriages which are being coupled).
Probably my favourite in the auction

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Automobilia

Bonhams are having a sale of Automobilia as part of the Goodwood Revival. A few items I like:

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Lot No: 85

The British Empire Trophy Race, Donington 1936,

Est £200 - £300

Fantastic graphic design, to me it looks more modern than the 30s (really looks 50s I think), which probably emphasised the modernity of the event.

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These two lots I thought were interesting to compare - two sets of race overalls: one from the 60s and one from the 00s, interesting to note (amongst other things) the spread of sponsors logos on the recent pair...

Lot No: 153

A pair of Andre Lotterer's Jaguar Formula 1 Team racing overalls,

in green and white, with 'Jaguar Racing', 'HSBC', 'Becks', 'Du Pon', 'EDS', 'Michelin', 'AT&T', 'hp', and 'S.Oliver' logos, with handwritten driver identification to inside of belt, good condition.

Estimate: £200 - 300

Lot No: 168

A pair of Jim Clark's Dunlop racing overalls,

mid 1960s, two piece type, in blue, zip fastening with button to top, with 'Dunlop, 'Esso', 'Lotus' and 'GPDA' logos attached, good condition, some light race wear, offered together with a letter outlining the provenance of the overalls and a photograph of the former owner wearing them in 1965.

Estimate: £2,000 - 4,000

 

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Hobbs of Barbican letterhead

Hobbs of Barbican were one of the top British racing cycle manufactures of the 30s and 40s (you can read more about them here). Accompanying the auction of one of their frames on Ebay there is a tantalising glimpse of their letterhead, they were noted for their lavish catalogs and clearly had an eye for commissioning graphic design

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I emailed the seller of the frame and he generously supplied this high resolution scan of the letterhead (thanks again Martin). It brings out some of the detail not visible in the low resolution image - like the directors listed under the monogram (click on the image below for the high resolution version).

Kennington Theatre

This Theatre once stood quite close to my flat, and was a significant South London musichall venue (it's a block of flats now, the original building was destroyed in the war).

I love the graphic design of the program:

Magic Posters

Martinka hold regular specialist auctions of magical equipment and ephemera. I've purchased one or two posters from them in the past, they have a new sale (but not too many posters this time). Here are some things that caught my eye:

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Buried in Flames - Marvelo Window Card

Oversize at 28" x 22"

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Houdini Mourning Stationery

Unused letterhead from Houdini with a portrait of him at the corner. Houdini added a black border to his stationary for a while after the death of his mother.

They also have in a separate auction this clipping about the death of his mother

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Chung Ling Soo Stationery

The ornate stationery of Chung Ling Soo with barely enough room left for the letter. Borders in gold leaf. Circa early 1900s.

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Virgal & Julie Panel

Virgil and Julie present the Indian Rope Trick. Circa 1950, printed by W. E. Smith Ltd., Sydney. Approx. 13.5" X 30".

Just a detail of this one - love the mix of 50s modern cityscape and top-hatted magician flying around on his carpet!