1949 Be Kind To Animals Humane Society Will Rannells

Date: 1949
Artist: Rannells, Will        
Size (in): 22” x 17” 
Size (cm): 56 x 43
Condition: A-
Linen backed: No 

This is the vintage original 1949 official poster of the American Humane Association, the national organization known today as the American Humane Society with chapters focusing on animal welfare throughout the United States.  This poster was created by the artist Will Rannells who had a long career as a commercial art instructor at Ohio State University and also illustrated children’s books and covers for major American magazines including Life, McCall’s and Judge among others.  For this poster Rannells illustrates a charming idealized view of children reading an oversized “Animal Stories” book while surrounded by a cat, a dog, a squirrel, a rabbit, birds and a farms animals.    

This was the offical poster for 1949 and the lower margin shows a 1948 copyright by The American Humane Association of Albany, New York which was the national headquarters for the organization.   The lower margin is also printed with the address of the Connecticut Humane Society in Hartford and the slogan “Do A Kind Act Daily To Some Animal”.  This vintage original poster is free of tape or pinholes and looks pretty well unused with just some light handling.   The colors are sharp and overall condition is excellent.