Cyril Kenneth Bird (1887-1965), ‘Fougasse’

Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport.

As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry’s messages across in a novel way.

Fougasse’s distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists.

‘Fougasse’ Rugby Referees Cyril Kenneth Bird original poster

£550

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (1887 - 1965)

Become a Rugby Referee
Lithographic poster 32 x 26 cm "If you sometimes wonder whether you still enjoy being battered about on a Sunday afternoon quite as much as you did, why not give a thought to refereeing - which would allow you to keep up a connection with the game of games, and do a very useful job for it too." Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport. As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry's messages across in a novel way.

Fougasse's distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists.

Condition: backed to linen; generally excellent. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other works by the artist.

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‘Fougasse’ Careless Talk Costs Lives Cyril Kenneth Bird poster

£650

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (1887 - 1965)

Careless Talk Costs Lives (circa 1940)
Lithographic poster 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) "You never know who's listening" - here, behind two gossiping passengers on a bus, sit Mussolini and Hitler. Fougasse reminds us that we ought not to discuss secrets which could be of use to them. Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport. As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry's messages across in a novel way.

Fougasse's distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists.

Condition: excellent. Backed to linen. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other works by the artist.

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‘Fougasse’ Careless Talk Costs Lives Cyril Kenneth Bird poster

£650

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (1887 - 1965)

Careless Talk Costs Lives (circa 1940)
Lithographic poster 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) "Strictly between these four walls" - here, in the painting hanging behind two gossiping men in gentleman's club, hide Mussolini and Hitler. Fougasse reminds us that we ought not to discuss secrets which could be of use to them. Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport. As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry's messages across in a novel way.

Fougasse's distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists.

Condition: good. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other works by the artist.

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‘Fougasse’ Careless Talk Costs Lives Cyril Kenneth Bird poster

£650

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (1887 - 1965)

Careless Talk Costs Lives (circa 1940)
Lithographic poster 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Version printed on thicker paper. "But of course it mustn't go any further" - in the luggage compartments above two gossiping men, Mussolini and Hitler are hiding. Fougasse reminds us that we ought not to discuss secrets which could be of use to them. Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport. As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry's messages across in a novel way.

Fougasse's distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists.

Condition: backed to linen; generally excellent. If you are interested, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Click here for other works by the artist.

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‘Fougasse’ Careless Talk Costs Lives Cyril Kenneth Bird World War 2 poster

£650

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (1887 - 1965)

Careless Talk Costs Lives (circa 1940)
Lithographic poster 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Version printed on thinner paper. Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport. As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry's messages across in a novel way. Fougasse's distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists. Condition: if you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

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‘Fougasse’ Careless Talk Costs Lives Cyril Kenneth Bird World War 2 poster

£650

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (1887 - 1965)

Careless Talk Costs Lives (circa 1940)
Lithographic poster 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Version printed on thinner paper. Fougasse was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch between 1937 and 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Transport. As the Second World War progressed, the Ministry of Information’s poster campaign had become less and less effective. There were posters instructing the population to save old clothes for rags, turn off the lights, save food, dig for victory, watch out for spies, and keep calm and carry on. With this instruction overload, the population had ceased paying attention to the posters. Fougasse noticed this, and offered his services unpaid to the Ministry of Information, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to the posters. His amusing designs with pithy captions, reminiscent of newspaper cartoons, helped to get the Ministry's messages across in a novel way. Fougasse's distinctive poster style, with the red border, was subsequently adopted by other Ministry artists. Condition: if you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

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Fougasse animal welfare rabbit label lithograph

£75

Fougasse (Cyril Kenneth Bird, 1887 - 1965)

'When we plan our new world, let's give a thought to animals too'
Lithograph 11 x 11 cm Cyril Kenneth Bird, under the name Fougasse, was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch 1937 - 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and produced many other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Underground. His pen and ink cartoons for Punch are some of his gentlest and funniest works. What is less widely known about Fougasse is that he was a keen animal welfare activist. He became the chairman of the Universities' Federation for Animal Welfare after the war, and illustrated many of the Federation's campaigns. This label is one such illustration, and encourages the post-war re-evaluation of society to take into account the welfare of animals as well as that of humans. Condition: good. Small soft crease to top right corner. If you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

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Fougasse: ‘A Lift Home’ original pen and ink cartoon drawing

£1,500

Fougasse (Cyril Kenneth Bird, 1887 - 1965)

'I'm very glad Jones offered me a lift home as the rain certainly seemed to get much heavier!' (1966)
Pen and ink 32 x 24 cm Signed upper right. Cyril Kenneth Bird, under the name Fougasse, was a British cartoonist. He was art editor of Punch 1937 - 1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and produced many other posters for the Ministry of Information and London Underground. His pen and ink cartoons for Punch are some of his gentlest and funniest works. Provenance: The Fine Art Society Ltd., 148 New Bond Street, June 1966. If you’d like to know more, please email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

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Out of stock

Careless Talk Costs Lives VII ‘Fougasse’ IV Army Corps Edition Poster

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965) Careless Talk Costs Lives VII
Lithographic poster c.1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Reprinted by the IV Army Corps by the 103rd Engineers Lacking the normal Fougasse edition, the IV Army Corps commissioned their Engineers - the 103rd Engineers - to produce their own edition. Indescribably rare, one of the ones in this series is inscribed 'To Al, with sincerest regards Warren C Guggenheim'. The cartoonist Fougasse, was a British cartoonist who was art editor of Punch 1937-1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters both for the Ministry of Information, London Underground and others. The Ministry of Information’s wartime poster campaign was soon regarded as dull and uninspiring on account of its hectoring messages such as ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ There were posters telling the population how to conduct virtually every minute of their daily lives – for instance by saving old clothes for rags, turning off the lights, saving food, digging for victory, or watching out for spies. With this instruction overload the population ceased paying attention to the posters, so Fougasse offered his services to the Ministry of Information unpaid, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to serious messages. An amusing picture and a pithy caption helped to get the message across to the reader. His distinctive style, with the red border, was adopted by other Ministry artists. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good, a few very soft creases as normal.

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Out of stock

Careless Talk Costs Lives VI ‘Fougasse’ IV Army Corps Edition Poster

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965) Careless Talk Costs Lives VI
Lithographic poster c.1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Reprinted by the IV Army Corps by the 103rd Engineers Lacking the normal Fougasse edition, the IV Army Corps commissioned their Engineers - the 103rd Engineers - to produce their own edition. Indescribably rare, one of the ones in this series is inscribed 'To Al, with sincerest regards Warren C Guggenheim'. The cartoonist Fougasse, was a British cartoonist who was art editor of Punch 1937-1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters both for the Ministry of Information, London Underground and others. The Ministry of Information’s wartime poster campaign was soon regarded as dull and uninspiring on account of its hectoring messages such as ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ There were posters telling the population how to conduct virtually every minute of their daily lives – for instance by saving old clothes for rags, turning off the lights, saving food, digging for victory, or watching out for spies. With this instruction overload the population ceased paying attention to the posters, so Fougasse offered his services to the Ministry of Information unpaid, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to serious messages. An amusing picture and a pithy caption helped to get the message across to the reader. His distinctive style, with the red border, was adopted by other Ministry artists. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good, a few very soft creases as normal.

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Careless Talk Costs Lives V ‘Fougasse’ IV Army Corps Edition Poster

£400

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965) Careless Talk Costs Lives V
Lithographic poster c.1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Reprinted by the IV Army Corps by the 103rd Engineers Lacking the normal Fougasse edition, the IV Army Corps commissioned their Engineers - the 103rd Engineers - to produce their own edition. Indescribably rare, one of the ones in this series is inscribed 'To Al, with sincerest regards Warren C Guggenheim'. The cartoonist Fougasse, was a British cartoonist who was art editor of Punch 1937-1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters both for the Ministry of Information, London Underground and others. The Ministry of Information’s wartime poster campaign was soon regarded as dull and uninspiring on account of its hectoring messages such as ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ There were posters telling the population how to conduct virtually every minute of their daily lives – for instance by saving old clothes for rags, turning off the lights, saving food, digging for victory, or watching out for spies. With this instruction overload the population ceased paying attention to the posters, so Fougasse offered his services to the Ministry of Information unpaid, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to serious messages. An amusing picture and a pithy caption helped to get the message across to the reader. His distinctive style, with the red border, was adopted by other Ministry artists. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good, a few very soft creases as normal.

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Careless Talk Costs Lives IV ‘Fougasse’ IV Army Corps Edition Poster

£400

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965) Careless Talk Costs Lives IV
Lithographic poster c.1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Reprinted by the IV Army Corps by the 103rd Engineers Lacking the normal Fougasse edition, the IV Army Corps commissioned their Engineers - the 103rd Engineers - to produce their own edition. Indescribably rare, one of the ones in this series is inscribed 'To Al, with sincerest regards Warren C Guggenheim'. The cartoonist Fougasse, was a British cartoonist who was art editor of Punch 1937-1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters both for the Ministry of Information, London Underground and others. The Ministry of Information’s wartime poster campaign was soon regarded as dull and uninspiring on account of its hectoring messages such as ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ There were posters telling the population how to conduct virtually every minute of their daily lives – for instance by saving old clothes for rags, turning off the lights, saving food, digging for victory, or watching out for spies. With this instruction overload the population ceased paying attention to the posters, so Fougasse offered his services to the Ministry of Information unpaid, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to serious messages. An amusing picture and a pithy caption helped to get the message across to the reader. His distinctive style, with the red border, was adopted by other Ministry artists. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good, a few very soft creases as normal.

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Out of stock

Careless Talk Costs Lives III ‘Fougasse’ IV Army Corps Edition Poster

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965) Careless Talk Costs Lives III
Lithographic poster c.1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Reprinted by the IV Army Corps by the 103rd Engineers Lacking the normal Fougasse edition, the IV Army Corps commissioned their Engineers - the 103rd Engineers - to produce their own edition. Indescribably rare, one of the ones in this series is inscribed 'To Al, with sincerest regards Warren C Guggenheim'. The cartoonist Fougasse, was a British cartoonist who was art editor of Punch 1937-1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters both for the Ministry of Information, London Underground and others. The Ministry of Information’s wartime poster campaign was soon regarded as dull and uninspiring on account of its hectoring messages such as ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ There were posters telling the population how to conduct virtually every minute of their daily lives – for instance by saving old clothes for rags, turning off the lights, saving food, digging for victory, or watching out for spies. With this instruction overload the population ceased paying attention to the posters, so Fougasse offered his services to the Ministry of Information unpaid, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to serious messages. An amusing picture and a pithy caption helped to get the message across to the reader. His distinctive style, with the red border, was adopted by other Ministry artists. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Generally very good, a few very soft creases as normal.

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Out of stock

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ Careless Talk Costs Lives Poster

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965) Careless Talk Costs Lives
Lithographic poster c.1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) The cartoonist Fougasse, was a British cartoonist who was art editor of Punch 1937-1949, and subsequently editor until 1953. He is best known for his ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ series of posters, and the other posters both for the Ministry of Information, London Underground and others. The Ministry of Information’s wartime poster campaign was soon regarded as dull and uninspiring on account of its hectoring messages such as ‘Keep Calm and Carry On.’ There were posters telling the population how to conduct virtually every minute of their daily lives – for instance by saving old clothes for rags, turning off the lights, saving food, digging for victory, or watching out for spies. With this instruction overload the population ceased paying attention to the posters, so Fougasse offered his services to the Ministry of Information unpaid, with a view to bringing a touch of humour to serious messages. An amusing picture and a pithy caption helped to get the message across to the reader. His distinctive style, with the red border, was adopted by other Ministry artists. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056. Condition: Excellent.

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Fougasse Careless Talk Costs Lives

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British, 1887-1965)

Careless Talk Costs Lives
Lithographic posters c1940 32 x 20 cm (12.5 x 8 in) Set of eight and individual posters available, please call for current stock. Further biographical details and items by Fougasse are available here. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

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Cyril Kenneth Bird – Fougasse Noise Almost Always Annoys

£170

Cyril Kenneth Bird ‘Fougasse’ (British 1887-1965)

Noise Almost Always Annoys
Lithographic poster c1940 29.5 x 19.6 cm (11.5 x 7.5 in) printed by Fosh & Cross Ltd. “Published by King Edward’s Hospital Fund for London from a drawing kindly presented by Fougasse. No. 6. F&C Ltd.” Further biographical details and items by Fougasse are available here. If you are interested email info@manningfineart.co.uk or call us on 07929 749056.

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