Gladstone's Rum

Gladstone's Jamaican Rum advertising poster from 1893 is a visual piece in a class of its own, rather than focusing on the stunning landscapes of Jamaica, it keeps the background monochromatic and focuses on capturing the essence of the rum. The simple but telling illustration shows a West Indian woman holding a large bottle of rum in her hands. The poster here shows, in contrast to many other posters from the same period, only the most necessary to get its message out.

The poster was originally made in 1893 as a lithograph, and was made on behalf of Ph. Delpey Jeune and Co in Bordeaux, France.