Upon researching the book ‘Keep Calm for Chaps’ I realised that it was part of a Keep Calm series of advice books, each book with its own unique take on the slogan with the first book titled simple ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ which was published on 1 June 2009.



The original ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster, with its iconic sans-serif typography and image of the crown of George IV, was first created by the Ministry of Information at the beginning of the Second World War. ‘Keep Calm’ was the third poster in a set of three; ‘Freedom Is In Peril. Defend It With All Your Might’ and ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory’, specifically with the intention of use in the event of a Nazi invasion^[1]. Out of the three posters ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’ was printed in the largest quantity at somewhere close to two million. However, as no such emergency occurred, the poster was never released to the public. It was not until the year 2000 that the poster was rediscovered in a bookstore and placed behind the till by Stuart and Mary Manley for the customers to admire and request after. It quickly became popular and due to the length of time that had elapsed preventing any copyright issues. Thus, Barter Books, the bookstore in Northumberland, England reproduced prints as people requested and its presence proliferated from there.^[2] Aided by celebrities such as James May and Rupert Grint wearing a ‘Keep Calm’ T-shirt and Gordon Brown supposedly have one in his 10 Downing Street home.^[3]

Comment on this page