World War I Posters

General

Lot 556
Smith "Complete Your Education..." Ca. 1917. Size: 19 x 29". Printed for the Student Nurse Recruiting Movement. Some soil in margins, soft horizontal creases, handful of tiny tears in margins, one 1" tear at top edge. Good condition.

"Complete your education then come with me I lead to world wide opportunity" appeals to America's young women to join the nursing corps and the Red Cross as a means to expand their horizons rather than just face the War. It is interesting to note that nowhere in the poster is the War mentioned or pictured.
Estimated Value $100-150.

Lot 557
Steinlen, Theophile Alexandre "En Belgique Les Belges Ont Faim". 1915. 36 x 51", framed to 37 x 52". Lithograph. Printer: Lapina, Paris. Folds, one quarter-sized water spot at left margin, minor wrinkles and creasing to margins. Very good condition.

The suffering of the Belgians under German occupation is vividly portrayed in August Theophile Steinlen's poster advertising an auction to benefit famine victims.
Steinlen and his friend Tolouse Lautrec were two of the most important figures in the development of the poster in France (and consequently, the western world). Steinlein's advertising images were notable for his bold use of color and sensuous lines (as in his famous "Chat Noir") but he was also able to express the tragedy and depredations of war in a spare, eloquent manner.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Please note the original Steinlen drawings for sale in our Fine Arts section.

Lot 558
Steinlen, Theophile Alexandre "Journée des Régions Libérées". 1919. 35 x 47" framed to 34 x 50". On linen. Lithograph. Printer: Lapina, Paris. Folds with minor chipping, a few repaired tears at edges, paper is evenly toned. Good condition (B).

A bold and desolate image with a plea for help for those returning to the "Régions Libérées" -- the "Liberated Regions" -- hope in the face of the devastated landscape.

Museum mounted under UV-3 plastic with barrier boards and Chartex, muslin or linen backing.
Estimated Value $600-750.
Please note the original Steinlen drawings for sale in our Fine Arts section.

Lot 559
Two European Relief Posters. Two post-war posters making relief appeals.
1). Red Cross "All They Ask Is Your Old Clothes" circa 1918. Size: 21 x 27". Two areas of paper loss at right edge, one 1" long and one ½" long; some soft creasing at edges; nicks to left edge; three small areas of discoloration in text. Good condition.
2). Bettsbains "Lest We Perish" 1918. Size: 20 x 27". Dampstaining and old water spots throughout; paper loss at upper right margin with old tape; minor chipping to other margins; some toning. Poor to fair condition.

Two powerful images stress the pain of readjustment and relief in Europe. Our first poster uses the Red Cross' image of outstretched hands over an image of a war-torn city to bring home the message. The second poster, with Bettsbains' haunting image, is almost enhanced by the waterstains -- they add to the desolate feeling of the piece.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 560
Whitehead "Mine More Coal". 1918. Size: 20 x 30. Printer: Edwards & Deutsch, Chicago, "No. 6" printed at bottom left corner. One 4½" and one 3½" tears from top edge, top right corner missing, 11½" clean tear from bottom edge, 2½" tear with minor paper loss at bottom edge, a few minor chips at bottom edge. The colors remain very bright, like new, and the tears would be easily repaired.

Conservation efforts are here portrayed with the same degree of importance as efforts in the foxholes (which, in fact, they ultimately were).
Estimated Value $75-100.
Theofiles 103.