"Build and Fight in the Navy Seabees" Vintage WWII Poster by John Philip Falter

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"Build and Fight in the Navy Seabees" Vintage WWII Poster by John Philip Falter

About the Item

This is a vintage WWII U.S. Navy Seabees recruitment poster, illustrated by John Falter. The poster was printed in July of 1943 and features a young soldier with his helmet and a M-1 slung over his shoulder, ready to serve. A construction site and crane are seen in the background. The top of the poster urges viewers to “Build and Fight in the Navy Seabees" while the bottom of the poster further stresses that construction workers are wanted and that “Men 17 and 38 to 50 by Voluntary Enlistment,” and “Men 18 to 37 by Voluntary Induction” can “Apply At Any Navy Recruitment Station.” The poster is paired with an original Seabees metal plaque, printed with the iconic flying and fighting Seabees logo. The Navy Construction Battalion, nicknamed the Seabees, were a military construction force that played a key role in the Allied victory in World War II. The Seabees were established in 1942 to build bases, camps, and other infrastructure like warehouses, for the U.S. military. The Seabee motto is "Construimus, Batuimus," which is Latin for "We build, We fight." Men enlisted into the Seabees were trained to build infrastructure and defend themselves against enemy attack. More than 325,000 Seabees served during World War II. They served on every major front, from Normandy to Iwo Jima. John Philip Falter (1910-1982) developed his artistic skills at an early age, even designing a mural for his local soda shop when still a teenager. For a few years, Falter worked as a comic strip artist on a strip entitled Down Thru the Ages, for the local Falls City Journal, in Falls City, Nebraska. He expanded his talents at the Kansas City Art Institute. After graduating, he won a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York City. Falter’s first steady job started in 1933 with Liberty Magazine. For $75 dollars a week, he was hired to create three illustrations weekly. Increasingly aware of the lucrative nature of advertisements, the artist began seeking opportunities for such work. Some of his regular advertising clients included Gulf Oil, Four Roses Whiskey, Arrow Shirts, and Pall Mall. Falter was very busy in 1943. Following the onset of World War II, the artist enlisted in the Navy. He was promoted rapidly, while designing over 300 recruiting posters for the government. Many of them served domestic purposes and were geared toward women, like the WAVES campaign (“Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service”). CONDITION: Original color lithograph. Paper is clean and healthy, with only light wrinkling in paper margins. The poster’s color is still vibrant and bright. Signed by Falter in the lithographic stone, at lower left. Poster measures 42” H x 38” W. Original WWII Seabees metal door plaque. Plaque in very good condition. The plaque is drilled, for hanging. The plaque is 3” in diameter. The poster and plaque is artfully framed to archival standards, with acid-free mats, UV Conservation Clear glass, and a custom-built black frame. Framed Dimensions: 49 1/2" H x 35" W x 1 1/2" D. Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.

Dimensions:
Height: 49.5 in (125.73 cm)Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Metal,Paper
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1940-1949
Date of Manufacture:
1943
Condition:
Additions or alterations made to the original: Framed by Rio Grande in Colorado Springs, CO, in October of 2024. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: P4491stDibs: LU909742675372

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"Wear the 'FIGHTIN'EST' wings in the service" Vintage WWII Marines Poster 1942

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This is an original World War II Marines recruitment poster from 1942. The poster, a color lithograph, was printed by the Alpha Litho. Co., out of Camden, NJ. In the center of the composition appears a striking blue eagle, which tears apart a Japanese plane with its talons. The poster displays the slogan "Wear the FIGHTINEST wings in the service, Fly with the Marines" in bold letters above and below the image. On the bottom in black lettering is the phrase: "Apply, or write, to nearest recruiting station." The Marines logo appears in yellow in the top right hand corner of the composition, set against a red background. The Second World War ushered in the biggest government-led advertising campaign to date, critical to the wartime communication needs of every combatant: from raising money, recruiting soldiers and boosting volunteer efforts, to spurring production and provoking outrage at enemy atrocities. The Office of War Information (OWI) commissioned some of the nation’s leading artists to produce the stark, colorful graphic designs. The posters played to the fears, frustrations, and faith in freedoms that lingered in people's minds during the war. The most common themes found in the posters were the consequences of careless talk, supporting the war effort at home through conservation, victory gardens, and the purchasing of War Bonds, and anti-German and Japanese propaganda...

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