1942 This is America Freedom of Speech and the Press Sheldon Claire Co. WWII

Date: 1942 
Artist: Unknown          
Size (in): 36” x 24” 
Size (cm): 91.4 x 61 
Condition: A-
Linen backed: No

This is a vintage original WWII era poster issued by The Sheldon Claire Company of Chicago.  This company was founded in the 1930s and originally produced work incentive posters and employee motivational materials. During WWII the company’s work incentive and motivational posters began to focus on civil liberties, basic freedoms and the American values that we were fighting for and that those on the home front were working to protect.  

This poster is particularly noteworthy because of its message that freedom of speech and freedom of the press where an essential American value that must be protected, a timeless belief just as important today as it was in 1942 when this poster was issued.   The poster features an image of a man buying a newspaper at a newsstand festooned with numerous different newspapers and periodicals in a variety of languages.  Text on the poster reads: 

This is America…where you can read any paper, any magazine, any book you please.  Where freedom of the press is a guarantee of your liberty – This is your America…Keep it Free!        

The lower left corner shows a 1942 copyright by The Sheldon Claire Company of Chicago and the lower right corner shows a printing trades union made emblem.   This vintage original poster has been professionally conservation mounted to linen.   A few short tears small nicks and chips on the edges were expertly repaired during the linen backing process. The original colors are retained the poster displays beautifully.  Overall condition is very good.