This charming London Underground poster was designed by the artists Clifford & Rosemary Ellis in 1935 to promote Christmas shopping in fashionable West London. It focuses on a small section of the Tube map which includes Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, South Kensington, Gloucester Road, High Street Kensington, Notting Hill Gate, Bayswater, Queens Road, Lancaster Gate, Paddington, and Marble Arch. Cleverly laid beneath the Underground lines are a collection of Christmas shopping lists and children's letters to Santa Claus, arranged as if to resemble, at a glance, the city's streets. The map is ringed by a border of twinkling stars. Above the map is a stocking filled with toys and below the map is the iconic Underground roundel. A companion poster was also produced which covers the area further east around Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, and the West End.

Clifford & Rosemary Ellis, a husband-and-wife duo, were both significant British artists in their own rights during the mid-20th century, but their most recognizable works are the posters they designed together for London Transport, the Empire Marketing Board, and Shell. Married in 1931, their successful artistic partnership lasted over 50 years. Their work is vibrant and expresses a great love for animals, landscapes, and the natural world. They also designed more than 90 book jackets for the New Naturalists Library series, which remain instantly recognizable, and many popular wallpaper patterns.

Provenance: the artist's studio.

Backed on archival linen. Printed colour. [LDN7205]