Original Liberty Loan bond poster linen First World War I WW1 WWI 1918 Pennell

Description

Original 1918 lithograph supporting the sale of Fourth Liberty Loan, a national bond initiative issued by the US government to help pay for America's participation in the First World War. This loan was held in fall 1918 shortly before the November armistice. The apocalyptic image shows New York harbor in flames, the Statue of Liberty decapitated from a German aerial bombing raid. Though logistically impossible at the time, the image warns American implicitly that the US has an obligation to fight the Germans now in Europe or risk fighting them later, at much greater cost, on American soil. The poster thus answers critics of American intervention in the "European war" (and of President Woodrow Wilson) who claimed that the US should avoid entanglement in the conflict. Artist is Joseph Pennell, a Philadelphia-born painter and illustrator who was one of the era's stars in his field.  This image was printed in two versions: a 30 x 40 inch version in orange, black, and white; the version for sale here is only two colors, maroon and cream, at 20 x 30 inches.
Newly linen backed (10 oz cotton canvas + 100 lb cotton paper) and acid-neutralized. Very good condition; strong colors; no missing paper, no fold lines; a trace of an old horizontal crease at the top left where the top corner was folded back for many years prior to backing. There are two photos, one with and one without flash. Poster will ship rolled in a hard tube. flat shipping fee for US lower 48. International buyers pay actual shipping via a service of their choice. Please see my other current auctions of French and American WW I posters. Combined shipping on multiple purchases.