1941 Forest Defense Is National Defense Prevent Forest Fires Flagg WWII

Date: 1941 
Artist: Flagg, James Mongtomery                              
Size (in): 18” x 14”  
Size (cm): 45.7 x 35.6 
Condition: B+
Linen backed: No 

This vintage original and rare WWII poster was created by the artist James Montgomery Flagg and issued by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service in 1941. For this poster Flagg renders an image of two men in denim overalls working with shovels to battle a forest fire seen in the background under the title FOREST DEFENSE IS NATIONAL DEFENSE.  This poster is one of at least three that Flagg designed for the United States Forest Service during WWII and seems to be the rarest of the group.   The lower margin has the United States Forest Service logo and lists tips for preventing forest fires.   The lower margin also indicates this artwork originally appeared in The American Weekly newspaper supplement on April 16, 1941.  

This vintage original WWII era poster is free of tape or pinholes and shows moderate handling wear and some toning from age.  The poster was folded slightly off center and has some light bumping on the edges most evident along the left edge.   The poster has a single short half inch tear on both the top and bottom edges and closed vertical tear of less than two inches on the center fold line on the right side but no loss of paper on any of these.  The original colors are nicely retained.  Overall condition is very good and could be made to look almost like new with basic linen backing (which we can arrange for an additional cost).  Overall condition is very good.