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Catalogue information
LastDodo number
5401043
Area
Drawings / paintings
Title
Civil Defence Appeal
Artist
Art object
Art Movement / style
Genre
Material
Technique used
Colouring
Dimensions
54 x 38 cm
Series / hero
Collection / set
Number
Addition to number
Year
1950
Country
Language
Details
Original editorial cartoon on board in pen and ink, published in the London Evening News, 1950, as one of the ‘Smiling Through’ series, shows ‘Albert’ perched on a roof-top, and his wife holding a notice ‘Civil Defence Appeal Premier’s broadcast’ and saying ‘My Albert’s ready anyhow. Always kept himself in roof-spotting training, he did’. Roof-spotting was a common practice during World War Two with the purpose of spotting German warplanes in British towns and cities. With the onset of the Cold War the government introduced civil defence plans in the case of nuclear attack and appealed for volunteers to help implement the plans, although roof-spotting for nuclear bombs is hardly likely to have figured in these plans. Board size 54 x 38 cm (21 x 15 inch), image size 43 x 29 cm, signed lower left, caption in ink in lower border and dated 16-10-50, numbered 707, minor edge staining, otherwise in very good condition.