Postcard, Inter-Art Co, England, 1914
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1914
Postcard, Inter-Art Co, England, 1914 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated 1914. The museum's brief description reads: Postcard with illustration of a child surrounded by toys and holding a real gun underneath a Union Jack flag.
Illustrated by Fred Spurgin, Patriotic III series, no. 801, printed by the Inter-Art Co., 1914. Museum description: A postcard with a portrait picture in colour of a small boy dressed in a sailor suit holding an adult rifle. There are three toys to his left - a horse a ball and a train. Above him is a Union Jack flag. Underneath in red is the caption - AWAY WITH TOYS - GIVE ME A GUN The reverse of the postcard is hand written in black ink, addressed to Miss Kitty Scrimshaw.
There is a green halfpenny stamp of George V stuck in the top right hand corner, franked Boston, 31 October 1914 The museum record gives material recorded as card, ink; measurements Height 8.5 cm; Length 13.8 cm; place associated: England. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The Inter-Art Company was based in Red Lion Square in London, operating from 1909 until 1931. It is well-known for its comic propaganda postcards printed during the First World War using artists such as Donald Gill (1875-1962) and Fred Spurgin (1882-1968). The company printed at least ten series of postcards at this time including Huns, British, Comique, Allies and Armee. This example is from its Patriotic III series. It was written to a girl called Kitty from her aunt sending birthday greetings and does not mention the war.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- card, ink
- Dimensions
- Height 8.5 cm; Length 13.8 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Printed card with handwriting in ink
- Place recorded
- England
Identification
- Museum attribution
- Inter-Art Co
- Museum object name
- Postcard
- Museum object number
- B.453-2012
- Museum system number
- O1263112
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the museum record and a specialist reference.