Original U.S. WWI “Weapons for Liberty” Boy Scouts of America Propaganda Poster - Third Liberty Loan Campaign - 20 x 30”

Original Item. Only One Available. During World War I, the impact of the poster as a means of communication was greater than at any other time during history. The ability of posters to inspire, inform, and persuade combined with vibrant design trends to produce thousands of interesting visual works.

The use of posters as propaganda took off during World War I, and some of the most iconic images from this era are still in use today. For example, the image of Uncle Sam pointing at viewers and saying, "I WANT YOU," created by James Montgomery Flagg, dates from 1916 and was subsequently used throughout the rest of World War I, repurposed for World War II, and is still identifiable to many people today. The popularity of posters during World War I speaks to how effectively they could reach and influence the American people, conveying information while attempting to affect behavior.

While Liberty Bond posters often stressed such positive incentives as fulfilling one's patriotic duty, keeping the world safe for democracy, and backing "our boys" others sought to motivate through fear and loathing of the enemy. This poster by American illustrator Herbert Paus, is a fine example of a poster for “keeping the world safe for democracy”. Paus was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2005. He was particularly associated with the magazine Popular Science, for whom he produced all the covers from mid-1927 to early 1931.

This poster is one of the most scarce of all Liberty Loan posters, depicting a Boy Scout handing a sword inscribed "Be prepared" to a stylized warrior carrying a shield with an eagle design, who is draped in a robe representing the U.S. Flag.

This example is in good overall condition but there is some tearing along the edges as shown. Despite this, it’s a very scarce poster to find in any condition. This poster should be put in a frame to be preserved for decades to come.

Comes ready for framing and display!

Note: This poster will ship rolled.