Limited Edition 'Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite' Letterpress Print (original) (raw)

• “Simply Stunning”… Featured in Rolling Stone, and receiving worldwide acclaim, Paul McCartney himself owns a print from this edition. Painstakingly recreated using the same Victorian methods that were used to create John Lennon’s original, this poster features specially commissioned wood engravings from renowned engraver Andy English and each copy is letterpress printed by hand and numbered individually.
  This is a recreation of the poster that inspired John Lennon and Paul McCartney to write the song Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite!, which appeared on The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is printed in a limited edition of 1,967.
  Lennon bought the poster in an antiques shop and hung it in his music room. While writing for Sgt. Pepper one day, he and Paul McCartney drew inspiration from the quirky, old-fashioned language and set the words to music. Most of the song's lyrics came straight from this old circus poster!
  Every effort has been made to be true to the original poster and it is printed using the same methods that would have been used in 1843.
  This is not only a beautiful letterpress print in its own right, but a unique and fascinating item of Beatles memorabilia. Properly cared-for, it should last even longer than John Lennon's original and it's the perfect gift for a Beatles fan.
  See how it was made

• Medium

Letterpress print, with two wood-engravings.

Dimensions

The overall dimensions are approximately: 273mm (10.75") x 494mm (19.5"). These measurements include an unprinted 'margin' of approximately 25mm (1") around all sides of the printed area. Paper is cut by hand, so some small variance should be expected.

Substrate

It is printed on 225gsm Zerkall 902 Rough. This is heavy, archival-quality paper that is superbly suited to letterpress printing. Please note that the images on this page may not accurately show the colour of the paper, which could be described as off-white or very pale cream.

Poster Text

The Poster Reads as follows:
PABLO FANQUE'S CIRCUS ROYAL,
TOWN-MEADOWS, ROCHDALE.
Grandest Night of the Season!
AND POSITIVELY THE
LAST NIGHT BUT THREE!
BEING FOR THE
BENEFIT OF MR. KITE,
(LATE OF WELLS'S CIRCUS) AND
MR. J. HENDERSON,
THE CELEBRATED SOMERSET THROWER!
WIRE DANCER, VAULTER, RIDER, &c.
On TUESDAY Evening, February 14th, 1843.
Messrs. KITE & HENDERSON, in announcing the following Entertainments, assure the Public that this Night's Production will be one of the most splendid ever produced in this town, having been some days in preparation.
Mr. KITE will, for this night only, introduce the
CELEBRATED
HORSE, ZANTHUS!
Well known to be one of the best Broke Horses
IN THE WORLD!!!
Mr. HENDERSON will undertake the arduous Task of
THROWING TWENTY-ONE SOMERSETS,
ON THE SOLID GROUND.
Mr. KITE will appear, for the first time this season,
On the Tight Rope,
When Two Gentlemen Amateurs of this Town will
perform with him.
Mr. HENDERSON will, for the first time in Rochdale,
introduce his extraordinary
TRAMPOLINE LEAPS
AND
SOMERSETS!
Over Men & Horses, through Hoops, over Garters,
and lastly through a Hogshead of REAL FIRE!
In this branch of the profession Mr. H challenges
THE WORLD!
For particulars see Bills of the day.
JONES & CROSSKILL, PRINTERS AND BOOKSELLERS, YORKSHIRE STREET, ROCHDALE.

• Please select the 'Framed' option above. Prints are framed to archival standards on a per-order basis by a Guild Commended UK framer. Full details about framed prints are at the bottom of this page.
• We take great care with packaging to help ensure that your print reaches you in excellent condition. Prints are wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and shipped in large-diameter, thick-walled tubes with secured end caps.
  We ship worldwide, and regularly send orders to the US, Canada and Australia. Depending on the destination, orders for multiple prints may arrive in multiple packages.
  UK orders are usually delivered within two working days after dispatch. International orders are normally delivered within 5–10 working days after dispatch.
  Customers in the EU may have to pay a small amount of import duty to receive packages sent from the UK.
• "The finished product is a gorgeous piece of work, worthy of its status as the unlikely object that inspired a pop-music masterpiece." Fast Company Design
  "One man set out to recreate the original using the traditional techniques of wood engraving and letterpress printing. The results are stunning." Gizmodo
  "I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the print I just received...it is simply stunning. Magnificent job all around, and I will treasure it always." Buyer
  "The framed print arrived yesterday. Wow!!! Fantastic, absolutely fantastic. The print looks great and the framing is the icing on the cake. Congratulations on a job very well done." Buyer
  "Package arrived today and the print is in perfect shape. The idea to reproduce this poster was inspired, and it was executed perfectly." Buyer
  "Just want to let you know - I received my wonderful print which was a delicious feast for the eyes … your team did a great job with the details of the reproduction." Buyer
  "I have just received my framed print and would just like to tell you how wonderful it is. I have wanted a Kite poster for years. Thank you for your dedication, the result is truly stunning." Buyer
  "It arrived yesterday and it is spectacular. Everything I had hoped for." Buyer
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