"The Marines Have Landed!" Vintage WWII Poster by James Montgomery Flagg, 1942

This is an original World War II Marines recruitment poster by James Montgomery Flagg, issued in 1942. The poster depicts three U.S. Marines trudging through the surf onto a beachfront. Battleships line up along the horizon in the background. The red text at the top of the poster proudly proclaims, "The Marines Have Landed!” The bottom of the poster encourages onlookers to “Apply to Nearest Recruiting Station” and serve their country during the war. 

In World War II, Marines played a central role in the Pacific War, participating in nearly every significant battle. During the war, the Corps grew from two brigades to two corps with six divisions, and five air wings with 132 squadrons. In addition, 20 Defense Battalions and a Parachute Battalion were also set up. In all, the Corps totaled at a maximum end strength of over 475,000 Marines, the highest in its history. Posters such as this one were crucial in recruiting young men to join the Marines. 

The Second World War ushered in the biggest government-led advertising campaign to date, critical for raising money, recruiting soldiers and boosting volunteer efforts, stimulating production, and provoking outrage at enemy atrocities. The Office of War Information (OWI) commissioned some of the nation’s leading artists to produce the stark, colorful graphic designs. The posters played to the fears, frustrations, and faith in freedoms that lingered in people's minds during the war.

The most common themes found in the posters were recruitment, the consequences of careless talk, supporting the war effort at home through conservation, victory gardens, and the purchasing of War Bonds, and anti-German and Japanese propaganda. The posters reminded the American populace that victory over the Axis was not a given, and certainly would not be achieved without the whole-hearted support and sacrifice of all men, women, and children. By the time of the armistice in November 1918, the American government had produced more than 20 million copies of some 2,500 distinct poster designs. 

James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960) was a prodigious illustrator, working as a contributing artist to Life magazine at the surprisingly young age of 14. He is most famous for creating the first image of the fictional Uncle Sam. His “I want YOU" lithographed image of Uncle Sam was published in 1917, during the first World War. It is storied that Flagg used his own image as the model for Uncle Sam, imagining himself as a much older man and with facial hair. He went on to design 46 posters during WWI. During World War II, Flagg’s Uncle Sam poster was reissued and could be found in front of every post office and recruiting station across the country.

Flagg is also well known for his pen-and-ink drawings and numerous portraits in oil, ranging from intimate likenesses of family members to grand renderings of statesmen and celebrities like Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and Jack Dempsey. He exhibited in the Paris salon of 1900, at the National Academy of Design, and the New York Watercolor Club. At his peak, Flagg was reported to have been the highest paid magazine illustrator in America. He was elected to the Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1980. 

CONDITION:

Good condition overall. Lithograph, with original color. Color is strong, without fading. Poster edges lightly wrinkled. Several tears throughout, since stabilized; the largest at lower center, medium tear at top right, small hole to the “l” in “Apply” at bottom, small loss to lower right corner.  Lower left printed with publication date with number line. Signed by the artist in lithographic stone. 

Artfully framed to archival standards in a custom-built black wooden frame, with UV Plexiglas. 

Framed Dimensions: 40" H x 30" W x 1 1/4" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.