Odds and quads

These flyers form part of an extensive archive of manifestos and other publicity material from every general election since 1892.

Four boxes are devoted to the 2005 general election alone. The collection also includes material from by-elections, elections to the London County Council from 1889 to 1913 and to the European Parliament, from 1979 to the present day.

The archive was originally assembled by the National Liberal Club, but it has been held since the 1970s in the special collections of the University of Bristol library.

The three images shown here relate to prime minister-to-be Harold Macmillan's unsuccessful bid for the constituency of Stockton and Thornaby in 1945; Tony Blair's last-minute but successful campaign for the Sedgefield seat he was to hold from 1983 to 2007; and Liberal leader David Steel's successful stand for re-election for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles in 1979.

Send suggestions for this series on the sector's treasures, oddities and curiosities to: matthew.reisz@tsleducation.com.