"Be a U.S. Marine!" Vintage WWI Recruitment Poster by James M. Flagg, circa 1917

View Similar Items

"Men Wanted For the Army" Vintage WWI Recruitment Poster

"Join the Air Service" Vintage WWI Poster by J. Paul Verrees, 1917

"U.S. Marines. Reserved for you!" Vintage WWII Marine Corps Recruitment Poster

"Ready. Join U.S. Marines" Vintage WWII Recruitment Poster by Haddon Sundblom

"Let's Go. U.S. Marines" Vintage WWII Recruitment Poster by Dickson, 1941

"The U.S. Marines Want You" Vintage WWII Recruitment Poster, 1940

Vintage French Red Cross WWI Poster, circa 1918

"Shall We Be More Tender with Our Dollar" Vintage WWI 2nd Liberty Loan Poster

"Shall This Continue? Join the Navy" Vintage Navy Recruitment Poster, circa 1916

Original Antique British WWI Recruitment Poster Come Now Be Honest With Yourself

Original Antique War Recruitment Poster Teufel Hunden US Marines WWI Devil Dog

"Volunteer for the Red Cross Motor Corps" Vintage WWII Recruitment Poster

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 5

"Be a U.S. Marine!" Vintage WWI Recruitment Poster by James M. Flagg, circa 1917

About the Item

Equally persuasive as his iconic "I WANT YOU" poster, James Montgomery Flagg's exhortation to America's youth in this WWI poster is poised on the edge of action: pistol raised, about to aim; foot forward, fatigues rumpled as if in the first motions toward a run. The artfully painted Marine pops in contrast from the bold, simplified, flag depicted in the background. The poster’s design is completed with a concise exclamation, “Be A U.S. Marine!,” in blue text at bottom. This Marines recruitment poster was designed by the famed poster artist, James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960). Flagg was a prodigious illustrator, working as a contributing artist to Life magazine at the surprisingly young age of 14. He is most famous for creating the first image of the fictional Uncle Sam. His “I want YOU" lithographed image of Uncle Sam was published in 1917, during the first World War. It is storied that Flagg used his own image as the model for Uncle Sam, imagining himself as a much older man and with facial hair. Until the advent of the Cold War in the 1950s, America traditionally maintained a relatively small standing army. Whenever war broke out, it was necessary for the country to mobilize—to recruit (and sometimes draft) troops, to train them, and to produce the arms, equipment, and supplies needed to fight. When Congress and the President declared war on Germany in April of 1917, this mobilization took on extreme urgency. The government’s overarching goal was to persuade a traditionally isolationist American populace to invest and support the European war effort. They needed support both financially, through the purchase of war bonds and rationing, and emotionally, through volunteer service and displays of patriotism. New government organizations, especially the Committee on Public Information, were tasked with putting out a singular patriotic message, achieved primarily through posters and printed pamphlets. The United States alone produced about 2,500 poster designs and approximately 20 million posters, nearly 1 for every 4 citizens, in little more than 2 years. CONDITION: Original color lithograph, in very good condition. Color is original and still vibrant. Paper is healthy, with no splits or tears. Poster is signed in stone by artist, at lower right. Framed to highest conservation standards, with a custom-built black and gold frame. Framed dimensions: 43"H x 31"W x 2"D.

Dimensions:
Height: 43 in (109.22 cm)Width: 31 in (78.74 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Paper
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1910-1919
Date of Manufacture:
1917
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: P1771stDibs: LU909713029832