The Lost Guinness Gilroy Posters Photo, by John Gilroy, Drink Guinness Train, from S.H. Benson, Advertising campaigns, wall art decor

This is a unique curious piece of concept art, showcasing an Gilroy advertisment that never made it to completion and left on the cutting room floor. It is likely unique as this group of concept posters were never commercialised, so apart from the oil-painted original and appearance in the David Hughes books, no one will have these - making them fantastic conversational pieces of wall art.
This photo shows a poster showing "For a Refreshing Change, Drink Guinness" and shows the train delivering Guinness in Lagos, Nigeria with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.
What makes it the most mysterious is that after SH Benson closed in 1971, these concept oil painting posters "disappeared" until they started to resurface in America in 2008 in auctions.
This is a previously made photographic copy of a concept draft poster for Guinness originally by John Gilroy. They are probably the source material for various Guinness books such as that by Hughes which sourced material from the printer S H Benson archive, and on most of the photos, it is showing the S H Benson label from the original.
Printed on glossy Fuijicolor crystal archive photographic paper
Dimensions: 12.5 in x 8.5 in (31 cm x 21 cm)
Condition: These are early digital photos of never-released Guinness posters. As with early digital photography, the quality is not amazing. It's value is not within the quality of the photo, but in the uniqueness of the image. They are probably the source material for the David Hughes Guinness books on the lost Gilroy Guinness art.

In the 1920s Guinness had a problem. The venerable Irish brewer had been around since 1759—nearly two centuries—but geopolitical events were threatening to render its sales flat. Irish independence had leveled a new import tax on England-bound barrels. Add this to the near total loss of a prohibition-era U.S. market and things were not looking good for the sultan of stout. Guinness needed a marketing strategy—a relatively new concept at a time when legacy brands saw advertising as desperately uncouth. The in-house tagline “Guinness is good for you” was born in 1929 (the first of many touting the beer’s health benefits) but it wasn’t until Guinness tapped London creative agency S.H. Benson that the brand’s first legendary ad campaign would begin. Illustrator John Gilroy was given the account.

Because of the age of these posters, there are areas of wear and tear, particularly on the edges. I have done my best to take photos where they are torn or stained. The good news is that when framed, the tears press up well against glass, and edges can be hidden by mats. Any wear picked up from years are part of the vintage charm.

When framed these colourful and detailed posters, with vibrant colours can become a centre piece for any room, to remind us of a simpler time.

These posters are sent as unframed. They will be delivered in a cardboard backed envelope for protection.

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