"7th War Loan. Now- All Together" Vintage WWII Poster by C.C. Beall, 1945

This is a vintage WWII 7th War Loan poster. The poster was illustrated by C.C. Beall and published by the U.S. Government Printing Office in 1945.

C.C. Beall (1892-1967) was a commercial illustrator who drew comics and book covers. He based the image on this World War II war loan poster on the famous Joe Rosenthal photograph of the second, larger, American flag to be raised on Iwo Jima. The photo depicts five U.S. marines and a Navy soldier raising the American flag over the battle-scarred landscape of the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima. The photograph, published in news reports through the States and abroad, triggered a wave of national hope that Japanese forces would soon be defeated, and more importantly, that peace was near. 

This poster was part of the campaign for a 7th War Loan subscription, which took place in May 1945, just days after victory in Europe. Officials were concerned that the defeat of Germany might lessen bond sales. The slogan on the poster, “7th War Loan. Now -- All Together,” and the Iwo Jima image were meant to appeal to the spirit of collective patriotism and bolster bond sales.

There were at least four uses of this image in the 7th War Loan campaign, including one that pictured a variety of average citizens raising a large number “7” in the same positions as the soldiers in the Beall illustration. As it happened, the 7th War Loan surpassed all expectations, as over $156 billion was raised. The poster and iconic image spurred millions of Americans to buy war bonds to keep the nation on solid financial footing throughout the end stretch of war.

CONDITION:

Original color lithograph poster. Poster is in very good condition. Colors are bright and vibrant. Horizontal and vertical fold lines present. Publication line at bottom is still intact. Line reads: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1945- O-637980  WFD 11A” at left margin, "Official U.S. Treasury Poster" at center bottom margin, and  "U.S. Marines at Iwo Jima, Painted by C.C. Beall From Associated Press Photo" at bottom right margin. Poster is signed, in lithographic stone, by Beall at the lower right corner. Poster is sold unframed, as-is. Unframed dimensions: 26" H x 18 1/2' W.