World War I Posters

General

Lot 539
A Classic, Flagg's "I Want You". 1917 Size: 30 x 40", on acid-free mat and framed to 33 x 43½". Copyright: Leslie--Judge Company, New York. Pinholes in four corners and one in each side margin, chip in top right corner, smoothed-out crumpling to left and right sides, scattered minor wrinkles, some fading of red but overall good color. Very good condition.

The strength of Flagg's design is somewhat diluted when viewed on the printed page, but in person it is a striking piece of art -- a single indelible image and a caption used to great effect. Based on a British poster of Lord Kitchener printed in 1915, the portrayal of an aggressive Uncle Sam demanding participation appealed to patriotic citizens -- the design was so effective it was used again in World War II. This is the most recognizable poster of the 20th century and we are delighted to offer a genuine World War I version.
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.
Theofiles 11.

Lot 540
Anon "Gentlemen, The United States needs your help!" Circa 1917. Size: 20 x 29". Printer: National Capital Press, Inc. Soft wrinkles at left and top edges with a few minor chips, bottom left corner missing, surface soil, good condition.

Printed for the American Electric Railway Association and the U.S. Fuel Administration ("Save that Shovelful!"), with hints at saving coal to help the boys "over there".
Estimated Value $75-125.

Lot 541
Anon. "Victory Bonds Will Help Stop This". 1918. (Canadian?) Size: 24 x 36". Soft creasing throughout, toning at margins, handful of chips and paper loss, bottom two corners missing, 1 x 11" area of discoloration in dark portion of poster, 3" tear from bottom margin. Fair to good condition.

Commemorating the sinking of the hospital ship Llandovery Castle by German U-boats, this dramatic poster fully illustrates the tragedy that occured when the ship, flying appropriate hospital lights and colors, was hit by a torpedo on the night of June 27, 1918. Fourteen Canadian Red Cross nurses were killed with most of the crew and passengers when the Llandovery Castle's lifeboats were repeatedly run over and fired at by the German U-boat. International outrage simmered throughout the war and the U-boat's officers faced a war crimes trial in 1921.
Estimated Value $125-150.

Lot 542
Christy "The Motor-Corps of America". 1918 Size: 29¼ x 42½", matted to 32 x 45". On linen. Printer: not indicated. Minor, uniform fading and some toning to paper; horizontal crease; one small (¾") spot of discoloration on white field; pinholes at all corners and center bottom show some rust residue; two repaired tears and four small chips out of top edge; handful of tiny chips at edges; wrinkles and smoothed creasing at edges and scattered throughout. Overall, fair to good condition.

A simple design, with effective graphics, this scarce poster offers a glimpse at the increasing role of women in America's war effort -- no longer relegated strictly to nursing, knitting or gardening, American women (particularly young women) stepped up take the place of men who were needed in factories and on the front. Appealing to these women, the Motor Corps (under the auspices of the Red Cross) provided transport for wounded soldiers and the "Christy Girl" portrayed here holds a stretcher to represent that duty.
Estimated Value $1,200-UP.

Lot 543
Christy "The Spirit of America" (ca.1918) Size: 20 x 29¾", on acid-free mat and framed to 23 x 33". Printer: Forbes, Boston. Top 5" show moderate creasing, pinholes in all four corners, three tiny nicks to right edge, faint 8" abrasion with minor color loss projects up from center bottom edge, very faint creases at bottom edge. Not examined out of frame, but appears to be in very good condition.

The angelic dress and posture of the subject combine with the halo effect of an American flag behind her to make Christy's message for the Red Cross very plain. Support for the Red Cross had begun very early in the war effort, with donations being sent to Europe long before U.S. involvement in the War. Once the U.S. joined the fight, posters portraying the desperate plight of European victims began to be replaced with patriotic, almost religious posters, like the one offered here.
Estimated Value $600-800.
Theofiles 242.

Lot 544
Christy "The Spirit of America". Ca. 1918. Size: 20 x 29¾". Printer: Forbes, Boston. Minor discoloration at top edge, 3½" tear with small radiating tears near bottom right corner, small water spot near printer's mark, soft creasing and tiny nicks at top and upper right margins. Brilliant colors, good to very good conditon.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Theofiles 242.

Lot 545
Fisher, Red Cross Appeal. 1918. Size: 28 x 23". Soft wrinkles and nicks at top edge, bottom margin toned and with significant paper loss (all in margin), faint dampstaining in image, minor foxing and toning, one 11" tear at bottom of image. With the exception of the long tear, the majority of the faults would be easily matted out. Overall, good to very good condition.

Fisher's beautiful Red Cross nurse issues an almost irresistible plea through her body language alone. The determined soldiers behind her, with their tattered Stars and Stripes are obviously under the protection of this angelic figure and her appeal is clearly for them. This poster was printed more commonly with a caption and we are delighted to offer this version.
Estimated Value $400-500.

Lot 546
Foringer "The Greatest Mother in the World". Circa 1918. Size: 20 x 27½". Printed for "Form N.Y. 31 Second War Fund". Soft creasing in upper third of poster, minor surfacer soil and foxing, a few minor tears at left edge. Good to very good condition.

A dramatic image emphasing the importance of the Red Cross.
Estimated Value $125-150.
Theofiles 218.

Lot 547
Foringer "Make Our American Red Cross...The Greatest Mother in the World". 1919. Size: 19½ x 30". One 2½" line of discoloration across top of poster, one 2" tear up from bottom edge, minor chips in edge. Strong image, beautiful colors, very good condition.

Foringer's "Greatest Mother" image, uses shades of both the Madonna and Child and the Pietá iconography to draw the viewer in and create the greatest impact. A very successful advertising motif, the "Greatest Mother" turned up in several Red Cross posters during both World Wars.
Estimated Value $125-150.

RARE Leyendecker Uncle Sam

Lot 548
Leyendecker "Get in the Game With Uncle Sam". Ca 1917 Size: 19 x 25", matted and framed to 24 x 30". On linen. Printer: Publicity Committee, Citizens Preparedness Association, from a Collier's and Sons image copyrighted 1917. Minor, uniform fading; four repaired tears; paper is slightly toned. This rare poster is in very good condition.

An uncommon poster, with a marriage of two great American images -- Baseball and Uncle Sam. A determined Uncle Sam has rolled up his sleeves and stepped up to the plate, ready to hit one out of the park for the home team -- what could be more American? "Get in the Game with Uncle Sam" appeals to the patriotism of the general population and was applicable to recruitment, conservation, loan campaigns and general morale -- making it a very effective tool. We have not found this poster available from other sources and are delighted to offer such a wonderful specimen.
Estimated Value $1,500-UP.

Lot 549
Leyendecker "Order Coal Now" (ca.1918) Size: 20 x 29¾", on acid-free mat and framed to 22 x 31¾". Printer: Edwards & Deutsch Litho Co. Chicago. "No. 2" printed at bottom left corner. Overall even, minor fading; tiny abrasions at all four corners; in very good to fine condition.

The necessity of conservation of energy and food products was effectively addressed in many of the posters of World War I and they remain some of the most attractive posters of the era. "Order Coal Now", one of the most painterly of the World War I posters, blends the message of the United States Fuel Federation with Leyendecker's beautiful image to wonderful effect.
Estimated Value $600-700.
Theofiles 109.

Lot 550
Lot of Six Flyers. Lot of six flyers in varying conditions: five full color supplements to varying publications and one "My Soldier" flyer labeled "Take This Home and Put It In the Window". Three flyers have significant ink bleed from something they were on and one is missing the top right corner. Two of the pieces have been laminated. Conditions range from poor to good. Worth inquiry/inspection. Call for color copies.

A small version of Christy's "Americans All!" and "They Call Them Devil-Houds But They Are Simply Hounding the Devil" have been laminated and the colors remain brilliant. Three flyers show images of Lady Liberty, the most intact showing Liberty in front of Flanders Fields.
Estimated Value $50-75.

Lot 551
Lot of Three Posters. Lot of three posters.
1). "Victory Boys" Size: 8 x 11½". Some toning and foxing, adhesive residue on verso, one minor crease at top left. Very good condition. "A boy from this home has enrolled in the Victory Boys to earn and give to make our fighters fit" -- a flyer for the United War Work Campaign, this piece presses home the involvement of citizens young and old. We also know that the original owner was a Boy Scout, in addition to being a Victory Boy, and he hung up posters and was involved in loan drives all over his town.
2). "Save -- Buy -- for Victory!" Size: 15 ½ x 22". Surface soil and dampstaining, with one distinct water spot at top edge. Good to very good condition. A War Savings Stamps poster advertising their sale.
3). "V / Invest" Size: 19½ x 29½". One 2" tear at top left edge, thin abrasion along bottom of poster. Very good condition. The brilliant colors and excellent condition of this very popular poster make it a great addition to this lot.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 552
Lot of Two Posters. 1). Cesare "Bonds -- Which?" circa 1917. Size: 14 x 22". Originally published in The New York Evening Post. Toning with minor discoloration at top margin, one area of ink at right margin, pinholes at four corners. Good condition.
2). "V" small banner-type poster. Size: 18 x 5". Possibly trimmed from a larger poster, bright blue "V" on red 4½" square. White field is soiled with one area of discoloration, surface soil and soft creasing.

The first poster is Cesare's strong image of Uncle Sam with shackles labeled "Prussia" in one hand and a Liberty Bond in the other. The stark colors and image used in this piece (it was probably an insert into the newspaper, with extra copies availible for purchase) make it an emblem of the attitude expressed by the purchasers of Liberty Bonds.
Estimated Value $75-100.

Lot 553
Lot of Two Red Cross posters. Lot of two posters making Red Cross appeals.
1). Fisher "Third Red Cross Roll Call" 1918. Size: 20 x 30". Printer: American Lithographic Co., New York. One 12" tear with paper loss at origin from center top of poster, soft creasing and paper loss at right and left margins. Bright colors, fair to good condition.
2). Kidder "The First Three!" 1917 Size: 20 x 27½". Printer: "Form N.Y. 19 Second War Fund". Area of minor discoloration in bottom quarter, ragged left and right margins with minor apper loss, small tears at top, 12" tear from bottom to center of poster, 6" tear from top to center of poster, 4" tear near bottom of poster. Brilliant colors, poor to fair condition.

Two of the most striking Red Cross posters are offered together. "The First Three!" puts names and faces to America's first three war victims while making an appeal for the War Fund Week. The angelic Red Cross volunteer opening her arms for the Third Red Cross Roll Call is typical of the image used to appeal to both men and women.
Estimated Value $200-250.

Lot 554
Poster Miscellaney. Lot of four posters.
1). "Montclair Will See It Through!" Size: 31½ x 22". Printed by Lutz & Sheinkman, New York. Large red oval with white lettering. Soft creasing with a few tears throughout; minor paper loss by "i"; ragged edges with some chips. Poor to fair condition.
2). "Continuity Chart of the First Corps. Cadets" circa 1926. Size: 15 x 24". Detailed poster about the history of the Army Corps of Engineers. Surface soil, 5 x 2" area of scattered dark discoloration at left edge. Fair condition.
3). "Flags of Freedom" circa 1917. Size: 19 x 14". Minor surface soil, three water stains extend from bottom edge 2" into image. Poor condition.
4). "V" Cloth letter from a Victory banner. Size: 16" at longest and 16" at widest part. Minor foxing and red bleed scattered. Good condition.

An interesting assortment for the collector or dealer.
Estimated Value $100-150.

Lot 555
Sindelar "Uncle Sam Needs That Extra Shovelful". Ca. 1917-1918. Size: 20 x 28". Printer: Latham Litho, New York. Printed for the United States Fuel Administration. One 1" tear at top edge, three chips at right edge, a handful of soft creases at top edge. Bright, true colors; good to very good condition.

"Help Uncle Sam to Win the War"; the caption lists six measures people at home and work can take to conserve fuel -- measures that seem somewhat foreign 90 years later when "Fire small amounts of coal often" sounds like grilling instructions.
Estimated Value $75-100.
Theofiles 96.