{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O325084"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O325084/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MG6081/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MG6081/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MG6081","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O325084","accessionNumber":"M.74-1987","objectType":"Biscuit tin","titles":[{"title":"Royal Mail","type":"trade title"},{"title":"M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"The British biscuit tin came about when the Licensed Grocer's Act of 1861 allowed groceries to be individually packaged and sold. Coinciding with the removal of the duty on paper for printed labels. It was only a short step to the idea of printing directly on to tinplate. The new process of offset lithography, patented in 1877 allowed multicoloured designs to be printed on to exotically shaped tins.\r\n\r\nThe most exotic designs were produced in the early years of the 20th century, just prior to the First World War. In the 1920s and 1930s, costs had risen substantially and the design of biscuit tins tended to be more conservative, with the exception of the tins targeted at the Christmas market and intended to appeal primarily to children. The designs, generally speaking are a barometer of popular interests.\r\n\r\nThe advent of the Second World War stopped all production of decorative tin ware and after it ended in 1945, the custom never really revived.","physicalDescription":"Biscuit tin, offset litho printed tinplate, in the form of a Royal Mail cart with wheels, red side panels, curved roof a dark blue, the side walls with the legend `Royal Mail' in gilded, embossed, lettering. The wheels revolve freely and it is embossed with the monograme 'ER' on each side.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bayershal, Henry","id":"AUTH392027"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x40048"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Peek Frean & Co.","id":"A3045"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28690"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"tinplate","id":"x32089"}],"techniques":[{"text":"offset lithography","id":"AAT192900"},{"text":"embossing","id":"AAT53826"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Tinplate, offset litho printed, embossed lettering.","categories":[{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Food vessels & Tableware","id":"THES48952"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"packaging","id":"THES289218"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2019MG6081"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"024","id":"THES337147"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Biscuit tin","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1901","earliest":"1901-01-01","latest":"1901-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"M.J. Franklin Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Taken from the register."},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Taken from the register"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Taken from the register"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"ROYAL MAIL","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"In embossed lettering on the side panels."}],"objectHistory":"M.J. Franklin Collection of British Biscuit Tins","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Biscuit tin, `Royal Mail', offset litho printed tinplate, made by Henry Bayershal for Peek Frean & Co., England, 1901.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.74-1987"],"accessionNumberNum":"74","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1987,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"RF number","id":"THES57673"},"number":"87/1216"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}