A rare first world war poster which reads "You Are Wanted by US Army" will feature as part of a New York auction of vintage posters on August 1.
 The poster's small circulation numbers increase its worth to collectors |
The image was printed locally in San Francisco and therefore would have had a much smaller distribution than those meant for national exposure, increasing its worth to collectors. It was created just one year after Mongomery Flagg's iconic "I Want You" poster and uses the same visual psychology.
Created by KM Bara, the lithograph is in condition B+, meaning there are some repaired tears and restoration to the edges, as well as some creases and abrasion to the image. Despite this, it is expected to sell for $6,000-9,000, its value boosted by its status as a previously unrecorded rarity.
Flagg's world-renowned "I Want You" will follow, with an estimate of $5,000-7,000. One of the best known American posters of all time and a US cultural icon, the piece is in fantastic condition for its age and has been rated A-.
The highest estimate of the sale is held by a poster entitled The Great Men of The World, which was issued by Chinese Nationalists circa 1945. It depicts all of the highly-ranked military officers of the Kuo Min Tang (Nationalist Party) surrounded by a border of world flags. Bizarrely, the top row is occupied with portraits of international political figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, Gandhi and Stalin. In condition B+, it is expected to bring $8,000-12,000.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a great range of vintage and collectibles posters available. We are currently offering a rare poster from the presidential campaign of John F Kennedy, which is a wonderful piece of political history. Another fantastic item from the 1960s is our California League of Sexual Freedom poster - psychedelic art at its very best.
