Vintage Motivational Posters: An original 1920s ‘Bill Jones’ tennis themed motivational poster. The poster includes the caption “Health! Is Priceless, It Pays to Keep Fit”.

This stylish poster is a stone lithographic print. The artwork features a mixed doubles team playing tennis and includes printed script signature ‘Bill Jones’.

The tennis poster includes printed credit to lower margin: ‘International Copyright 1928. Copyright 1928 U.S.A. {Parker-Holladay Co. (Eng.) Ltd., Drayton House, London, W.C. 1’. Additionally marked ‘Printed in England’ and is numbered 29.

This 1920s motivational poster was part of a series produced by Parker-Holladay to inspire British workers.

The name ‘Bill Jones’ (printed in script on the poster) was a fictional character. Parker-Holladay created catchy ‘Bill Jones’ quotes, inspiring good working and living practices. Each poster is numbered and features an Art Deco design alongside a quote. The ‘Bill Jones’ concept was also used on trade cards with very similar designs.

These posters were also issued in Europe and North America. Additionally a very similar style of poster was created for the German workplace.

To read more about Bill Jones in America see https://rockwellcenter.org/essays-illustration/motivating-workers/

We have a number of vintage posters included in our store. To find out more please use this link: TRAVEL POSTERS: An original early 1960s ocean liner poster, produced by Thomas Cook ‘Tickets For All Shipping Lines – Here At Cooks’.