Christmas, Advertisement, Vintage Print, Huntley & Palmers Biscuits, Father Christmas, Carol Singers, The Sphere Magazine

“Huntley & Palmers, the first name you think of in BISCUITS”

Original double-sided photogravure

Published in "The Sphere Magazine" London, 1950

Page Size = 26cm x 36.5cm (10 1/3 x 14 1/2 inch)

Condition= Light surface grime/small blemish after the word BISCUITS

Descriptions:

1)     A snow scene featuring Father Christmas dressed in the heavy white furred trimmed red hat, coat and trousers with brown leather boots that match his sack carried on his back with an assortment of other gifts including a soft toy rabbit, brass horn, toy white horse. His main gift he carries, a large box entitled “Huntley & Palmers-Empire Assorted” in a red circle framing a portrait of Britannia with the Union Jack. In the distance we can see his reindeer and sleigh loaded with decorated pine trees & other gifts.

 2)     Title Page, The Sphere, Christmas 1950- Features carol singers in a Gothic stone Cathedral interior of a lady in a pale blue dress with gold filigree decoration & white fur collar detail together with a medieval gold lattice hair decoration/winged cap singing from a hand book. Two children stand in front of her, one with red hair /lapis blue smock looking up, the other in a red smock looking down at an unrolled parchment with the calligraphy title “Cum Cantibux in Coro” on the front. Behind them we are looking through high gothic arches to the luminous rich lapis blue sky sprinkled with white stars. The illustrator is John Millar Watt (1895-1975) has signed the lower left of the parchment.

Huntley & Palmers Biscuits

Founded by Joseph Huntley in 1822 as a small biscuit bakery and confectioner at 119 London Street, in Reading , Berkshire, the location took advantage of the main Stage Coach route to Bath, Bristol and West Country. Selling to travelers en-route to the increasing popular spa destinations, either as travel treats or gifts, the biscuits would often break. A solution was to sell the biscuits in tins for the first time. The innovation gave Huntley two successful business ventures: the biscuit bakery and a Biscuit tin factory that his son Thomas established. In 1838 Joseph Huntley retired due to bad health. Thomas took on a business partner, George Palmer who, together with his own brothers, ended up taking over the business.The Highly decorated tins became of huge asset to the export industry that was growing due to the efficiency of steamships. The Stage Coach Empire gave way to the Great Railway Empire and the brand grew exponentially. The life of an artist had been traditionally supported by wealthy benefactors. With the growing popularity of graphics in advertising, the correlated with the Golden Age of Illustrators (1850-1920). Kate Greenaway was a known collaborator with Huntley & Palmers.