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

About the Item

This is very scarce WWI recruiting poster for the Army Air Service. The poster dramatically features a two-man open cockpit biplane with American and French markings flying against a red sky background. In the foreground, two uniformed spotters look on. The poster reads "Join the Air Service and Serve in France" with further urging "Do It Now" at bottom left. The poster is signed and dated, in stone, "J. Paul Verrees 1917" at lower right corner. Posters such as this rare example were used to attract more than 40,000 applicants, 15,000 of whom would go on to complete their training and serve in France. The Army Air Service, like the Navy, was dependent on recruiting; however, only the Army had a selective enlistment system. Condition: Original color lithograph, in good condition. The colors remain vibrant and al text is intact. As expected with age, the 1917 poster has some loss that has been conserved and filled in, especially at the top of the poster. Some minor creasing throughout, however, the work has been archivally framed to include UV protective glass. The poster was designed and drawn on stone by J. Paul Verrees.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 43.5 in (110.49 cm)Width: 31.25 in (79.38 cm)Depth: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1910-1919
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1917
  • Condition:
    Additions or alterations made to the original: Archival framing by Rio Grande Custom Framing in Colorado Springs 2019. Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Colorado Springs, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: P2581stDibs: LU909718033581

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