GWR publicity collection
Literature of Locomotion
Starting in 1927 a small booklet was published called The Literature of Locomotion and subtitled as being a 'Catalogue of Travel Guides & Jig-Saw Puzzles, etc.' which were 'Obtainable from any G.W.R. Station or Office, Railway Bookstall, your Bookseller'. This free booklet listed many of the books and jigsaws that would be available at the time of publication. It was updated and re-issued, sometimes several times in a year, until publication of the booklet ceased in 1938. Initially these booklets were about 4¾"x7¼" but from 1931 they became 5½"x8½" and typically contained about 16 pages. Up until 1930 the available selection of jigsaws was simply listed, but thereafter each puzzle, with few exceptions, was illustrated with a small image but few other illustrations were included. Rather unhelpfully not all of these booklets were dated, but the year of publication can sometimes be inferred as they could contain reference to books of a known publication date, such as Holiday Haunts.
Ever mindful of a sales opportunity, with the exception of the earliest editions, each of these booklets contained a tear-out order form with which you could order more books or jigsaws. Earlier examples had this form printed inside the back cover but from late 1934 it was printed on an internal page. Either way, the page was perforated to facilitate its easy removal. The one exception which we have found is the first edition from 1937 which contained the order form as a loose leaf insert. In the earlier booklets, up to and including July 1934, the order form is addressed to either The Superintendant of the Line, Paddington Station, London, W.2 or The Stationery Superintendant, G.W.R., 66 Porchester Road, London, W.2. Increasing sales of publications in general must have led to a rationalisation of departments as the November 1934 order form is now addressed to The Sationery Superintendant, G.W.R., 159 Westbourne Terrace, London, W.2, later changing to number 167. This art deco style buildingClick or tap to see this building
when newly completed is situated close to Paddington Station and was designed in 1933 by the GWR's chief architect at the time, P.E.Culverhouse. The Porchester Road building dates from 1903 and was the Stationery and Ticket printing Depot for the GWR. Both buildings survived to be redeveloped as multiple occupancy office blocks.
1927 season
1927-8 season
1928 season
1929
1930
1931
late 1931/early 1932
1932 edition 1
1932 edition 2
April 1933
August 1933
March 1934
July 1934
November 1934
1937 edition 1
1937 edition 2
1938
In addition to the booklets a number of concertina style leaflets were produced which bore the same title. These are believed to have been published between 1931 and 1939, possibly annually, and there may have been earlier ones that we don't know about. These were of a smaller format than the booklet, being just 3” x 4½” high when folded. We have several examples in our collection and their year of publication can be inferred from the year shown on the Holiday Haunts book adverstised within. Early examples consisted of six 'pages' whilst the later ones had eight. From 1933 a tear-off order form, similar to those in the booklets, was printed on the last page. Clicking or tapping on a leaflet thumbnail will open a gallery showing its content enlarged to approximately full size.
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1931 leaflet
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1932 leaflet
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1933 leaflet
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1935 leaflet
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1936 leaflet
