Marching Guardsmen Bookmark

Rank after rank of guardsmen in scarlet tunics and bearskins, rifles shouldered, all stepping off on the same foot — a crisp, graphic repeat in red, navy and cream that could only be British.

The design dates from 1950s Britain, and it has all the confidence of mid-century pattern work: flat colour, bold silhouette, no unnecessary detail. It's the sort of thing that would have appeared on a tea towel or a souvenir tin in the years around the Coronation, when the Guards were the shorthand image of London for visitors and locals alike. It still works, largely because the subject hasn't changed a bit — the Foot Guards are still doing exactly this outside Buckingham Palace every other morning.

At 48 × 162mm with a red ribbon marker, it lies flat in any book. A smart little gift for a history reader, a lover of mid-century design, someone with a fondness for London, or a visitor looking for something small to take home.

Come and see the full Museums & Galleries range in the shop in Canterbury — there's always more on the shelves than we can fit online.

Key features

• Marching Guardsmen design from 1950s Britain
• Scarlet tunics and bearskins in a bold graphic repeat on cream
• Red ribbon marker
• 48mm × 162mm
• Museums & Galleries, the British art-stationery publisher behind the V&A, Tate, Natural History Museum and British Museum ranges
• Flat enough to post inside a greetings card
• Perfect for history readers, mid-century design fans, London lovers and visitors

FAQ

• Who designed it? It's an archive design from 1950s Britain, with no individual designer credited.
• What does it show? Ranks of marching guardsmen in the scarlet tunics and bearskin caps of the Foot Guards.
• What colour is the ribbon? Red.
• What size is the bookmark? 48mm wide by 162mm tall.
• Is it suitable as a gift? Yes — a lovely small gift on its own, and light enough to post inside a card.