'Passengers of the Past', LNER poster, 1929

Passengers of the Past', LNER poster, 1929. Poster produced for London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) as part of a series showing 'Passengers from the Past'. This 'passenger from the past' is John Gilpin, the comic character well known from William Cowper's poem 'The Diverting History of John Gilpin', which relates the tale of this linen draper and his anniversary holiday that was beset with misfortune from start to finish. Artwork by Austin Cooper (1890-1964), a Canadian who studied art in Cardiff and Arbroath. He began his career as a commercial artist in Montreal, but returned to London in 1922 and designed posters for LNER, Indian State Railways and London Transport. His first show was held at the London Gallery in 1948. Dimensions: 1016 mm x 635 mm. ©SSPL/NRM/Pictorial Collection