100 things challenge - 26: Keep Calm
Many of you might be familiar with the story I'm posting today, but I like the story and all my creativity flew out the window, so I couldn't think of another fact to post....
Nowadays, the well known slogan of 'Keep Calm and Carry On' and it's many, many variations can be found all over the internet and on postcards, posters, mugs and clothing in a lot of shops. But the story started a little more serious, as the posters were originally designed by the British Ministry of Information at the beginning of WWII. They were intended to strengthen the morale of the British people. 'Keep Calm and Carry On' was the third in a series of posters, the other two reading 'Freedom Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might' and 'Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory'. Though 2,5 million 'Keep Calm' posters were printed, they were only distributed in limited numbers and so little known in the 1940's.
In 2000, a copy of the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster was discovered in Barter Books, a large second-hand bookshop in Alnwick. As the copyright of the poster had expired more than 50 years after WWII, Barter Books' owners were able to reprint the poster for their customers. Soon others followed, inside and outside Britain and the poster inspired ranges of merchandise and even a customized 'Keep Calm' generator!
Until shortly, it was believed there were only two surviving original posters outside of government archives, but in 2012 a collection of 15 originals was brought to the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow.
Nowadays, the well known slogan of 'Keep Calm and Carry On' and it's many, many variations can be found all over the internet and on postcards, posters, mugs and clothing in a lot of shops. But the story started a little more serious, as the posters were originally designed by the British Ministry of Information at the beginning of WWII. They were intended to strengthen the morale of the British people. 'Keep Calm and Carry On' was the third in a series of posters, the other two reading 'Freedom Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might' and 'Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory'. Though 2,5 million 'Keep Calm' posters were printed, they were only distributed in limited numbers and so little known in the 1940's.
In 2000, a copy of the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster was discovered in Barter Books, a large second-hand bookshop in Alnwick. As the copyright of the poster had expired more than 50 years after WWII, Barter Books' owners were able to reprint the poster for their customers. Soon others followed, inside and outside Britain and the poster inspired ranges of merchandise and even a customized 'Keep Calm' generator!
Until shortly, it was believed there were only two surviving original posters outside of government archives, but in 2012 a collection of 15 originals was brought to the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow.