Poster design promoting the electrical power of the London Underground. At center, a spinning black wheel from which extends a black arm with clenched hand. Lightning bolts issue from the fist. At upper right, a red power plant. Imprinted in red, blue, and black, left margin and lower left portion: POWER / THE / NERVE CENTER / OF LONDON'S / UNDERGROUND.

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Object Timeline

1930	Work on this object began.
1931	Work on this object ended.
1963	We acquired this object.
1970	We photographed this object.
2013	This was an Object of the Day.
2021	You found it!

Poster, Power, The Nerve Center of London's Underground, 1930–1931

This is a Poster. It was designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer and printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son and made for (as the client) Transport for London. It is dated 1930–1931 and we acquired it in 1963. Its medium is offset lithograph on white wove paper, mounted on board. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled The Power Underground.

This object was donated by Mrs. Edward McKnight Kauffer. It is credited Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.

A clenched fist bursting through blood with word "Capital" showing through the splatter.

Poster, Capital, 1968
screenprint on paper.
Museum purchase from the Members' Acquisitions Fund of Cooper Hewitt....
2017-8-1

Bandbox scene depicts eagle bearing in his beak a banderole advertising the manufacturer. Printed on banderole shown in pattern: "PUTNAM AND ROFF. PAPER/ HANGING &/ BAND/ BOX/ MANUFACR/ HARTFORD/ CON". Light blue ground block printed in orange, white, gray, and light brown distemper colors, and in green, brown, black and yellow with glossy finish. Rim covered in border paper with blue ground, block-printed in white, pink, brown and green.

Bandbox And Lid, Putnam and Roff, 1821–24
block printed paper on pasteboard support.
Gift of Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson.
1913-45-10-a,b

Poster featuring a typewriter sitting on a stage-like surface; a platform cropped on lower left; in the background, a hand balancing a ball on a finger with landscape of trees and dark sky.

Poster, Olivetti, 1977
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Milton Glaser.
1979-42-6

Our curators have highlighted 5 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Drawing, Design for Electric Streetcar
graphite, blue color pencil, black pastel crayon on white heavy wove paper.
1988-101-1475

Poster, Japanese Underground
Gift of Unknown Donor.
1992-67-13

Printed in black on image: Botta Cucchi/Museo/Cantanale d'Arte/ via/Canova 10/Lugano/ /La Cappelle/del/MonteTamaro/Mercoledi/Giovedi/Venerdi/Sabato/Domenica/ +/31 Ottobre/1 /Novembre/10-17/ Martedi/14-17/Lunedi /Chiuso/8/Ottobre/ 6/Novembre/ 1994

Poster, Botta/Cucchi, Museo Cantonale d'Arte, Lugano, 1994
lithograph on wove paper.
Gift of Bruno Monguzzi.
2009-14-1

Its dimensions are

101.6 × 61.4 cm (40 × 24 3/16 in.)

It is signed

Printed in black ink, lower right: EMcKnightKauffer 1930.

It is inscribed

Printed in black ink, lower left: 17.1500. 1/31; lower right: VINCENT BROOKS, DAY & SON, LTD. LITH. LONDON. W.C.2.

Cite this object as

Poster, Power, The Nerve Center of London's Underground, 1930–1931; Designed by Edward McKnight Kauffer (American, active England, 1890–1954); England; offset lithograph on white wove paper, mounted on board; 101.6 × 61.4 cm (40 × 24 3/16 in.); Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer; 1963-39-45

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CxY6/
Accession Number 1963-39-45
Object ID 18448065