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Keep Calm and Print On

Posted By: Jayenne MontanaJanuary 27th, 2012

Have you seen this poster recently? It seems that you can’t pass a market stall or concession stand these days without seeing it printed on canvas, mug or T-shirt etc. It has become arguably the most recognisable of the UK’s WWII posters today, and certainly with over 42 million reference on Google it is certainly the most popular at the moment. Given that then, does it surprise you to know that it was never even used?

This is my abridged version of how this poster became possibly the slowest overnight sensation ever…

This, now iconic poster was indeed designed and printed in it’s millions by the UK’s Government during 1939 for the homeland war effort, but was then stored – until such time Britain was invaded! Thankfully, peace came in 1945 rendering the posters redundant where all but a few “lost” copies were duly destroyed. One rare surviving “lost” poster was rediscovered 60 years on buried at the bottom of a box by a bookshop owner in Northumberland who promptly hung it on the shop’s wall. Thinking little more of it, the shop sold copies by printing small runs for local customers on request.

…That was until the poster was featured in the Guardian newspaper in 2005 and shortly after crashing the shops website under the stress of overwhelming demand. Since then, this small piece of history from the 1930′s has moved onwards and upwards not only in it’s own right but going on to inspire countless parodies that in-turn seems to have created it’s own industry of nick-knacks adorning kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms the world over.

I guess the most common is KEEP CALM AND HAVE A CUPCAKE but, do you own one yourself or have ever gifted one? and what’s the best parody of it you’ve seen (or made)?

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