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Catalogue information
LastDodo number
5716597
Area
Drawings / paintings
Title
London Bridge (falling down?)
Artist
Art object
Art Movement / style
Genre
Material
Technique used
Colouring
Dimensions
36 x 29 cm
Series / hero
Collection / set
Number
Addition to number
Year
1940
Country
Language
Details
Original editorial cartoon on card in pencil, ink and crayon, 1940, syndicated to a number of newspapers, shows the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the form of a winged lion fighting off the German attempt to gain control of the skies, ‘Nazi air supremacy’, above Britain in preparation for a cross-channel ‘invasion’ by German troops which would only be possible if Britain’s air defences were destroyed. This became known as the Battle of Britain, and the RAF prevented Germany from gaining air superiority, so forcing Hitler to postpone and eventually cancel Operation Sea Lion, the plan to invade Britain. Though the caption mentions London Bridge, it is in fact ‘Big Ben’ which is shown lower left in the cartoon. Card size 36 x 29 cm (14 x 11.5 inch), image size 31.5 x 26 cm, signed lower right with nine zeros as underline. Caption in pencil in upper border, in very good condition.