BP ethyl anti-knock controls horse-power – Historic Print
(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)
Description
This vintage poster of BP ethyl anti-knock controls horse-power brings a moment of history to your wall. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.
The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. A conversation-starting piece for home, office, or as a meaningful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Since 2001, Snapshots of the Past has shipped historic prints to tens of thousands of customers around the world.
BP ethyl anti-knock controls horse-power
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Kauffer's 1934 poster sells power as something a driver can control. Its title, "BP ethyl anti-knock controls horse-power," points to the fuel additive that stops premature detonation, which let engines run at higher compression and deliver more power. Edward McKnight Kauffer, the American-born designer who worked mainly in London, combined photography and design in bold, flat color, a style that made him one of the most influential poster artists of the interwar period. The print is a useful example of how British oil companies used modern graphic design to make a technical improvement feel immediate and exciting.
| Created / published | 1934 |
|---|---|
| Medium | 1 print (poster) : photolithograph, color ; 80 x 118 cm. |
| Genre | Posters British 1930-1940.Photolithographs Color 1930-1940. |
| Notes | No. 369.L. Photo & design by E. McKnight Kauffer." Promotional goal: Gr. Brit. C23. 1934. Purchase; (DLC/PP-1996:090)." |
| Subjects | British Petroleum Company--Products--1930-1940. Gasoline--1930-1940. |
| Source | Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division |
| Original scan | 4,677 × 3,777 px · prints to 16 × 13 in at 300 dpi |
| Reference | AMZ-SOTP-HPA-220174 |
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