1970s

A promotional banner poster printed by Virgin Records to promote the Sex Pistols 1977 single God Save The Queen in UK record stores. Released to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee, the alternative national anthem was regarded as an attack on the establishment and the monarchy, equating the Queen with a fascist regime. Highly controversial at the time, both the BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority refused to play the song. British artist Jamie Reid has become synonymous with the Sex Pistols and pretty much defined the image of Punk in the UK. His cut-and-paste aesthetic, featuring letters seemingly cut from newspaper headlines in the style of a ransom note, developed from his interest in radical politics. The lettering for this promo banner mirrored Reid's iconic design for cover of the single, voted the best record sleeve ever by Q magazine. An example of this banner poster is held in the collection of the V&A Museum, London.

Condition

Good (B)

Unfolded, backed on linen. Backing has smoothed and diminished the appearance of a 7½ in. diagonal crease through artwork and a 2 in. diagonal tear from upper edge. Edges cut slightly unevenly by the printer.