{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O106664"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106664/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O106664","accessionNumber":"E.823-2004","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"The Only Way: A Tale of Two Cities","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is among Charles Dickens's best known works. The historical novel, set in Paris and London during the French Revolution, was originally issued as a serial by Dickens himself. Different instalments were available every month. \r\nThe novel proved so popular that is was adapted for the stage as 'The Only Way: A Tale of Two Cities'. The prolific poster artist John Hassall designed this striking image of the character Sidney Carton for the dramatic production. Hassall's work appealed to a wide audience and is here appropriated to advertise the publication for sale in America.","physicalDescription":"Charles Dickens' smartly dressed Englishman S. Carton on the steps of the guillotine. An angry French mob waves blades in the foreground, reminding the viewer of the blade on the scaffold. Dramatic diagonal lines across the sky, behind.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Hassall, John (RI, RWA)","id":"A8489"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"lithograph (some red)","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Books","id":"THES48986"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Dickens","id":"THES252981"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC (VA)","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"3G","shelf":"DR27","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"poster","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United Kingdom","id":"x29336"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1895-1900","earliest":"1890-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"FOR SALE HERE/ THE ONLY WAY: A TALE OF TWO CITIES","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Charles Frohman Edition/ R.H. Russell, Publisher","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Paper covers, price 25 cents/ cloth covers, price 50 cents/ fully illustrated","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Hassall","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"signed within image"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster with image by John Hassall promoting American sales of Charles Dickens's work, Charles Fishman edition. UK, ca. 1895.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},{"text":"London","id":"x28980"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"French Revolution","id":"V150"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["A Tale of Two Cities"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.823-2004"],"accessionNumberNum":"823","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2004,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Leslie Schreyer Loan Number","id":"THES50220"},"number":"LS.2085"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-15","recordCreationDate":"2004-10-21","availableToBook":false}}