1918 Will You Have A Part In Victory War Gardens James Montgomery Flagg WWI

Date: 1918
Artist: Flagg, James Montgomery      
Size (in): 33” x 22.25”
Size (cm): 84 cm x 56.5 cm
Condition: A-/B+
Linen backed: Yes

This original antique poster was created by James Montgomery Flagg and issued by the National War Gardens Commission in 1918.   For this poster Flagg renders and image of the goddess like allegorical figure Columbia, a personification of the United States representing liberty and freedom, sowing seeds under the title Will You Have Part In Victory?   Additional text at the bottom invites the viewer to write the National War Gardens Commission for free books on gardening, canning and drying fruits and vegetables.  A 1918 copyright by the National War Gardens Commission and the quote “Every Garden A Munitions Plant” by Charles Lathrop Pack, President of the commission, appear in the lower margin below the image area.  

Flagg’s iconic “I Want You For The U.S. Army” is perhaps the most influential and widely recognized American propaganda poster of the 20th century.   This beautiful poster, created a few months later, was issued in at least two other text variations with a "Sow The Seeds Of Victory" title and subtitles that read “plant and raise your own vegetables” and “insure the fruits of peace”.  The so-called Victory Garden program promoted by this poster was one of the greatest successes of the era with more than five million American war gardens under cultivation by the end of the conflict.    

This poster has been professionally linen backed with some minimal touchup as needed including expert repair to a tear of about three inches without paper loss on the left edge.  A couple small creases and minor imperfections have been corrected during the linen backing process with the final result being a truly striking and beautiful piece.  The colors remain strong and overall condition is very good.