County Borough of Rochdale, official souvenir of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 2 June 1953
The official brochure issued in connection with the manifestations that the local council organised. It included simple treats such as a commemorative mug or spoon for school children, a day out for children who lived in council homes (and one shilling spending money) and for the day only, upon production of the pension book, free travel on the local Corporation buses.
The advert is for the well known and popular local grocers James Duckworth Ltd, then in their heyday with over 180 branches and known locally as ‘Jimmy Duck’s’. I remember the shops well although generally as Co-op members in this most Co-op of towns we went and got our divi at the local branch! Founded in 1868 by local man, who was self-made to the point of being knighted in 1908, Duckworth served as Mayor of Rochdale on several occassions before his death in 1915. The family continued with the business until they sold out to Wright’s, the biscuit makers of South Shields, in 1955. The stores were finally run down with the headquarters closing in 1969 and the final shops vanishing in c1975.
The blackletter is handdrawn Old English, combined with typeset Rockwell and all-caps Plantin Italic. The ad on the back is set in roman and italic styles of Gill Sans. The bold condensed grot with straight-sided rounds used for Duckworths is probably not a typeface. Caslon’s Condensed Sans-Serif No. 2 comes close. See also Miller & Richard’s Sans-Serif No. 4 and Stephenson Blake’s Condensed Sans Serifs No. 1.
