ARNRID BANNIZA JOHNSTON (1895-1972) FROM THE ARK TO REGENTS PARK / UNDERGROUND. 1931.
40x50 inches, 101 1/2x127 cm. The Baynard Press, London.
Condition B+: small replaced losses, repaired tears and restoration in margins; slight darkening at edges; minor restoration in image; repaired pin holes in corners.
Johnston's admiration of animals and her sense of humor are quite literally on parade in this poster, which makes the graphic point that the Regents Park Zoo has as many animals as did Noah's ark. It begins where the Ark landed, with the animals are filing out two-by-two into the Mt. Ararat tube station. On either side of the entrance are animal-centric posters, and a canine newsboy is hawking the daily papers with animal headlines. They are all passing another group of anthropomorphic animals hard at work on improving the Underground. Once they arrive in at Regents Park, the animals take the escalator up and deposit themselves contentedly in the zoo. In March 1932, the London Underground Staff Magazine listed this image "as one of the most popular posters… as judged by demands made for copies by the public" (London Transport p. 142). Yet, it remains rare today, as we could only find six copies at auction since 1997. London Transport 135.