In 1977 Britain’s Guardian newspaper published a seven-page article about the nation of San Serriffe, including features about the capital Bodoni and the country’s autocratic government headed by General Pica. Other articles focused on the country’s culture, cuisine and history. Many readers responded, recalling memorable holidays spent at Gill Sands and travelling to other tourist destinations such as Umbra and Perpetua.

The whole thing was of course an elaborate April Fools’ Day hoax, but this was before the advent of desktop publishing so many readers assumed the article to be fact.

This limited edition poster by Italian design studio Port Clarendon is a celebration of the San Seriffe hoax and the fictional port from which the studio has derived its name. Available from Port Clarendon’s store very soon!