Last updated at 23:18 06 April 2008

With one foot stamping on the Union Jack, the sinister beast launches itself at the virtuous maiden.

Hairy arms outstretched, the demon of socialism throttles the pure and upright Britannia, her belt of prosperity providing her with no protection from this monster's onslaught.

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An untameable beast: How the Tories saw the socialist menace in 1999

Much as it might resemble some lurid advertisement for a B-grade British horror movie, this strident image is in fact an election poster issued by the Conservative Party in 1909.

It is one of dozens from the early 20th Century released from the Bodleian Library's archive, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Bold, brazen and often over the top, these posters range from the overtly triumphant - such as the one which proclaims the Conservative Sun-Ray Treatment of peace, pensions and pure food - to the ferociously politically incorrect.

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Hope and glory: Even David Cameron might blanch at promising all this

A "Chinaman" poster from 1909 - featuring a character who has an uncanny resemblance to Tony Blair - was designed as an attack on Liberal prime minister Herbert Asquith's Free Trade policy.

It implies the policy will result in a flood of substandard, cheap Chinese pork replacing English bacon.

Here is proof, should any be needed, that there's nothing new about dirty tactics in the battle for power.

And while many of the posters seem outdated, there are some which seem strangely pertinent to British politics today.

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Hard times (left): But is it really so different today? Telling Porkies (right): Nothing new about dirty tactics

One poster from 1929 warning of the threat of Ramsay MacDonald's Labour party proclaims "Socialism Would Mean Inspectors All Round", and depicts a beleaguered Englishman in his home surrounded by officials prying into his affairs.

Surely not a million miles from Labour's Home Information Pack (HIP) inspectors of 2008.

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Beacon of hope? Guiding us in financial stormy waters

Free for all: WIll allowing foreign imports push us over the edge?

Overtaxed (left): Lloyd George is the bogeyman here; The rich get richer (right): A dig at champagne socialism

Sniffing around: Today it's the HIP inspectors who call

Through foreign eyes: It's the poor that pays the price