Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite: the poster that inspired The Beatles
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Welcome to Kite. We create fascinating, exclusive art prints in open and limited editions
Starting with our famous reproduction of John Lennon’s Victorian circus poster that inspired The Beatles’ Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!, we go to extraordinary lengths to produce beautiful, museum-quality art that lasts a lifetime.
From our studio in London, England we ship prints all over the world and the people who buy our work love what we make.
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite: A Limited Edition Print
In 1967 John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote a song called Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! for the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!. The inspiration – and many of the lyrics – came from a letterpress-printed circus poster from 1843 that Lennon had bought in an antiques shop.
We have lovingly recreated that poster, using antique wooden and metal type as well as specially-commissioned wood engravings. Every print is hand-pulled on a Victorian press and individually numbered.
See the printStephen Hawking's Time Travellers Invitation
Professor Stephen Hawking devised an ingeniously simple experiment to determine whether time travel into the past was possible. The success of the experiment entirely depends on his invitation being seen by time travellers.
To tie in with this experiment, and with Professor Hawking's approval, we have created this poster printed in two letterpress limited editions and an open edition. It was meticulously assembled using antique wooden and metal type. Purchasing this print may help to prove that time travel is possible!
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Last posting dates for Christmas 2024
The Christmas seasons is upon us, and it’s the perfect time to get some beautiful, high-quality prints from Kite for your loved ones. Order in good time to arrive before Christmas.
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Celebrating 55 years of Abbey Road
Abbey Road was released 55 years ago today, on September 26, 1969. Over half a century later, the album remains an iconic piece of musical history.
On this day in 1957: The Quarrymen perform at the Cavern Club for the first time
On 7 August 1957, The Quarrymen, a skiffle group founded by John Lennon, performed at the iconic Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time. This performance marked an early chapter in the story of what would eventually become The Beatles, the most influential band in music history.
