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Rob Hall Antiques
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Rare pair of 1860 Gloucester posters
An exceptionally rare pair of advertising posters for ‘Phospho Guano’ from the 1860s only recently discovered hiding their light under a bushel, forgotten for years as they were hidden from view. Guano was essentially the waste product of seabirds and came a highly sort after and lucrative commodity for its highly effective fertilizer due to its exceptionally high content of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium three nutrients essential for plant growth.. Fortunes for many in the 19th century were made in Guano and Britain was the main importer during that period.
The importers of Peruvian guano in this case were Pater Lawson and son of London and Edinburgh. In reality they began as seed merchants and agriculturalist after Charles Lawson founded a successful nursery in Edinburgh in 1770. Charles Lawson took over an already well established business and, trading as Peter Lawson & Son, turned it into one of the largest seed and nursery firms in Britain, with substantial exports. He became a prominent figure in the seed trade, taking part in a movement to break down a London monopoly, and successfully campaigning for the lifting of the duty on imported seeds. In 1828 he became honorary seedsman to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, which helped secure his commercial success.
The company moved into the business of trading in phospho-guano fertilizer, recently discovered on islands off central America, which they advertised to farmers as superior to nitrogen-rich Peruvian guano. In December 1868 the Lawsons entered into a contract with a financier to carry out an agreement he had negotiated with the state of San Domingo to raise a loan of £420,000 for the government, in return for a fifty-year concession to exploit the phospho-guano deposits on the island of Alto Velo. Only a fraction of the sum raised by the loan reached San Domingo, which recalled the debt in 1870. By then the Lawsons were heavily indebted to the British Linen Company's bank, whose agent took control of the family's business affairs, involving them in a series of troublesome financial transactions, notably the flotation of the Phosphate Sewage Company to take over the guano concession and market its product for use in a sewage treatment process after it was found to be useless for agricultural purposes. The Lawsons were also induced to purchase an American guano company, which had paid no dividend for nearly two decades. All revenues from the Lawson seed and nursery business were passed to the bank In January 1873 the historic seed business was acquired by a newly created and separate Lawson Seed and Nursery Co. Ltd.
The importing agents for Lawsons mentioned on the poster were the Foster brothers of Gloucester who in 1862 set up a warehouse and mill at the docks in Gloucester and they could unload the guano straight from the ships from Peru.
One poster remains in better condition than the other, but the substantial original frames are a lovely feature. These posters were only recently discovered after two larger prints were removed from these frames to reveal the much nicer original posters underneath. They have obviously remained hidden for many years.
1860s
Measuring Overall framed 74cm x 94cm x 3.5cm wide
SellerRob Hall Antiques
View all stock from
Rob Hall Antiques
Private dealer
By appointment only
Oundle,
Northants
Tel : 07858 820345
Non UK callers : +44 7858 820345
The importers of Peruvian guano in this case were Pater Lawson and son of London and Edinburgh. In reality they began as seed merchants and agriculturalist after Charles Lawson founded a successful nursery in Edinburgh in 1770. Charles Lawson took over an already well established business and, trading as Peter Lawson & Son, turned it into one of the largest seed and nursery firms in Britain, with substantial exports. He became a prominent figure in the seed trade, taking part in a movement to break down a London monopoly, and successfully campaigning for the lifting of the duty on imported seeds. In 1828 he became honorary seedsman to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, which helped secure his commercial success.
The company moved into the business of trading in phospho-guano fertilizer, recently discovered on islands off central America, which they advertised to farmers as superior to nitrogen-rich Peruvian guano. In December 1868 the Lawsons entered into a contract with a financier to carry out an agreement he had negotiated with the state of San Domingo to raise a loan of £420,000 for the government, in return for a fifty-year concession to exploit the phospho-guano deposits on the island of Alto Velo. Only a fraction of the sum raised by the loan reached San Domingo, which recalled the debt in 1870. By then the Lawsons were heavily indebted to the British Linen Company's bank, whose agent took control of the family's business affairs, involving them in a series of troublesome financial transactions, notably the flotation of the Phosphate Sewage Company to take over the guano concession and market its product for use in a sewage treatment process after it was found to be useless for agricultural purposes. The Lawsons were also induced to purchase an American guano company, which had paid no dividend for nearly two decades. All revenues from the Lawson seed and nursery business were passed to the bank In January 1873 the historic seed business was acquired by a newly created and separate Lawson Seed and Nursery Co. Ltd.
The importing agents for Lawsons mentioned on the poster were the Foster brothers of Gloucester who in 1862 set up a warehouse and mill at the docks in Gloucester and they could unload the guano straight from the ships from Peru.
One poster remains in better condition than the other, but the substantial original frames are a lovely feature. These posters were only recently discovered after two larger prints were removed from these frames to reveal the much nicer original posters underneath. They have obviously remained hidden for many years.
1860s
Measuring Overall framed 74cm x 94cm x 3.5cm wide
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 5/NOV/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
DimensionsOverall framed 74cm x 94cm x 3.5cm wide
Category Advertising Antiques
Date 1860s
Mid Victorian Antiques Origin English
Item code as226a215
Status Sold
£650.00 
$845.13 
€775.19 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 5/NOV/2024. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
View all stock from
Rob Hall Antiques
Private dealerBy appointment only
Oundle,
Northants
Tel : 07858 820345
Non UK callers : +44 7858 820345
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