Lot 590: A Collection of Vintage British Brewery Beer Mats and Advertising Ephemera

A collection of vintage absorbent pulpboard beer mats and associated advertising ephemera, primarily featuring British brewery and beverage branding from the mid-to-late 20th century. The lot contains an assortment of shapes including circular, square, rectangular, and shield-shaped mats. Brewery brands represented include Watneys Brown Ale, Tetley Special Pale Ale, McEwan’s Export, John Smith’s Bitter, John Smith’s Magnet Ale, Younger’s Tartan, Samuel Smith’s 4X Best Ale, and King’s Ale. The collection also features large circular mats for Cherry B and a Babycham mat with period character illustrations. Further items include advertising for Taunton Dry Blackthorn Cider, Smirnoff Vodka, and tobacco brands such as Embassy American and Silk Cut, as well as food-related advertising for Steak Canadian. The design work covers a variety of period-correct styles from traditional heraldry to 1960s and 1970s stylized graphics. Some mats exhibit regional production details and printer marks.