FREDERICK C. HERRICK (1887-1970) SCOTLAND / BY EAST COAST ROUTE FROM KING'S CROSS.
40x25 inches, 101x63 1/2 cm. The Dangerfield Printing Co., Ltd. London.
Condition B+: minor repaired tears, restored losses and creases in margins; repaired pin holes in corners.
The train from King's Cross Station in London to Scotland was one of the LNER's most successful and well advertised routes. Advertisements for the line typically depicted travel destinations or the bridges and trains operating the route, however this image departs from that motif. Herrick utilizes the image of a gigantic steed pulling the train along the tracks to personify the strength of the steam engine as it travels past a salutatory Poseidon off the coast. Herrick is best known for his popular London Underground advertisements, and it is possible that his design for a series of posters depicting Roman deities in 1921 for the company may have prompted his LNER commission for this rare depiction of a railway. The strong lines and bright colors typical of Herrick's style create a dynamic and compelling scene, pairing the mythological might of Poseidon with the industrial prowess of the steam engine. rare. We could find no other record at auction.