Published to coincide with a major exhibition in April 1998 at the Victoria and Albert Museum, this is an account of the evolution of the poster, from its early beginnings in the 1870s to the increasingly radical approach of the late-20th century. The book is divided into three parts: "Issues and Ideas" examines the political poster; "Products and Services" takes a look at the poster in the context of advertising and consumerism; while "Arts, Events, Performances" covers posters used to promote artistic activities, and looks at the poster as a work of art in its own right. Contributors from all three fields provide insights into how posters have been used as a communications tool in the 20th century, while the illustrations offer some of the best examples of poster art.