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... And the Gatepost
A series of posters from the 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' series, which were published in Britain during World War II to advise the public against discussing anything in public which could be overheard by spies and used against the Allies in the war.
26 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1940
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About the author
Fougasse
33 booksThe pseudonym of Cyril Kenneth Bird which he based on the fougasse, a type of mine.
Educated at Cheltenham College and King's College London (B.Sc.), and while at the latter, he attended evening art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court.
He fought in the First World War and was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli and invalided out of the British Army.
He first contributed to 'Punch' in 1916, while convalescing, and he also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the 'Graphic' and 'Tatler'.
He subsequently became one of the best known cartoonists of the time and he was one of 170 authors who created doll-sized books exclusively for Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
His unique drawing style was developed during the 1920s and 1930s,and it became extremely popular. , He used it in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He was art editor of 'Punch' from 1937 to 1949, and then editor until 1953, being the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine.
During World War II, he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters including the famous "Careless Talk Costs Lives" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. And in 1951 he was elected as Master of the Art Workers' Guild.
He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with W. D. H. McCullough. These included the very successful 'Aces Made Easy – or Pons asinorum in a nutshell' on the subject of contract bridge, and ' You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road' in 1935. He also designed many posters for the Government, including the iconic 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' series.
In the mid-1950s, he taught at the Christian Science Sunday School in the Sloane Square church.,
He had married Mary Holden Caldwell on 16 September 1914 and died in London, aged 77.
Educated at Cheltenham College and King's College London (B.Sc.), and while at the latter, he attended evening art classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic and at the School of Photo-Engraving in Bolt Court.
He fought in the First World War and was seriously injured at the Battle of Gallipoli and invalided out of the British Army.
He first contributed to 'Punch' in 1916, while convalescing, and he also contributed to several other British newspapers and magazines, including the 'Graphic' and 'Tatler'.
He subsequently became one of the best known cartoonists of the time and he was one of 170 authors who created doll-sized books exclusively for Queen Mary's Dolls' House.
His unique drawing style was developed during the 1920s and 1930s,and it became extremely popular. , He used it in many advertising campaigns as well as in magazine editorial. He was art editor of 'Punch' from 1937 to 1949, and then editor until 1953, being the only cartoonist ever to edit the magazine.
During World War II, he worked unpaid for the Ministry of Information, designing humorous but effective propaganda posters including the famous "Careless Talk Costs Lives" series. For this work he was awarded the honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946. And in 1951 he was elected as Master of the Art Workers' Guild.
He illustrated and co-wrote several humorous books with W. D. H. McCullough. These included the very successful 'Aces Made Easy – or Pons asinorum in a nutshell' on the subject of contract bridge, and ' You Have Been Warned – A Complete Guide to the Road' in 1935. He also designed many posters for the Government, including the iconic 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' series.
In the mid-1950s, he taught at the Christian Science Sunday School in the Sloane Square church.,
He had married Mary Holden Caldwell on 16 September 1914 and died in London, aged 77.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 26, 2021
A short book of illustrations and posters from the 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' propaganda campaign popular in Britain during WWII.
The idea of the posters was to warn people not to openly discuss sensitive war issues which could be unknowingly overheard by Axis spies. Theres a few pages at the beginning discussing the campaign and why a humerous comic style was chosen, and the rest of the book is the posters. Many of the aftermentioned 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' posters are familiar to me from school history lessons, and I think are generally recognisable to the British from cultural osmosis. What I loved were the additional illustrations of a cartoon Hitler face hidden in everyday objects. It's so absurdist and wonderful, and a very clever way to get the campaign's point across.
The image of Hitler as a teapot will live rent-free in my mind forevermore.
The idea of the posters was to warn people not to openly discuss sensitive war issues which could be unknowingly overheard by Axis spies. Theres a few pages at the beginning discussing the campaign and why a humerous comic style was chosen, and the rest of the book is the posters. Many of the aftermentioned 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' posters are familiar to me from school history lessons, and I think are generally recognisable to the British from cultural osmosis. What I loved were the additional illustrations of a cartoon Hitler face hidden in everyday objects. It's so absurdist and wonderful, and a very clever way to get the campaign's point across.
The image of Hitler as a teapot will live rent-free in my mind forevermore.
Displaying 1 of 1 review