The Yeoman of the Guard c.1920

This British stone lithograph poster is 30 inches tall by 20 inches wide.

The framing and measurements are underway.

Poster Analysis

Artist / Designer
Designed and printed by Stafford & Co. Ltd. (in-house design team).
No individual artist is credited on the poster, which was standard practice for this printer. The style is bold, simplified, and highly graphic — characteristic of early 20th-century British theatrical posters.

Location
United Kingdom (Nottingham, England).
Produced for the British theatrical market, most likely for tours or revivals of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera.

Printer / Publisher
Stafford & Co. Ltd. – Netherfield, Nottingham, England.
This is the same prominent lithographic printer that produced the previous “Sorrows of Satan” poster.

Topic / Subject
Theatrical post for the comic opera “The Yeomen of the Guard” (also subtitled “or The Merryman and His Maid”) by W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan.
The central figure is Jack Point, the jester (merryman), depicted in his traditional motley costume.

Date / Age
Circa 1910s–1930s (most likely 1920s–early 1930s).
Stafford & Co. used this bold color-block style during the interwar period. The opera itself premiered in 1888, but this poster is for a later revival or touring production.

Type / Format
– Theatrical / Opera poster
– Color lithograph with strong silhouettes and flat color fields
– Classic British “half-sheet” theatrical poster format

Business Relationships
– Printer: Stafford & Co. Ltd., Netherfield, Nottingham
– Client: Likely the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company or a provincial touring company licensed to perform Gilbert & Sullivan works.

Text Content
Main Title: THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD

Subtitle: Or “THE MERRYMAN AND HIS MAID”

Printer credit (bottom left): **STAFFORD & CO., LTD., Netherfield, Nottingham. 58 L 7 is likely an internal stock or order number

Visual Description
A dynamic, stylized illustration of a jester (Jack Point) in a green and pink motley costume with a feathered cap. He is seated dynamically, holding up a puppet version of himself on a stick, with a large shadow cast behind him. The design uses bold outlines, limited colors (gold, deep blue, green, pink), and strong silhouette effects — very eye-catching and theatrical.

Historical Context & Additional Information
– “The Yeomen of the Guard” (1888) is one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s more serious and romantic operas, set in the Tower of London during the 16th century.
– The jester character Jack Point is central to the story and often featured prominently in marketing.
– Stafford & Co. produced many iconic posters for Gilbert & Sullivan revivals. These posters are highly collectible today among G&S enthusiasts and theatre memorabilia collectors.
– The reference number “58 L 7” was used by the printer.

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This poster pairs nicely with the previous Sorrows of Satan poster — both are quality examples of Stafford & Co. theatrical lithography from the early 20th century.