c.1943 Share Your Clothing! Russian War Relief Inc. Hugo Gellert WWII

Date: c.1943 
Artist: Gellert, Hugo                            
Size (in): 20.75” x 13.5”  
Size (cm): 55.2 x 34.3 
Condition: B
Linen backed: No 

This vintage original and rare WWII era poster was created by Hungarian American illustrator and mural maker Hugo Gellert (1892-1985) for the Russian War Relief, Inc. (RWR) organization.  RWR was the largest American agency for foreign war relief during WWII which also functioned as a Soviet intelligence gathering and espionage agency in the United States during that time.  RWR even played a roll in compromising the Manhattan Project and passing atomic bomb secrets to the Soviets at the end of WWII.  

Hugo Gellert was born in Hungary and emigrated to the United States in 1906.   Gellert was a member of the Communist Party of America and produced a lot of pollical artwork for that organization as well as Max Eastman's publications The Masses and The Liberator among others.   

This vintage original WWII era poster isn’t dated but Russian War Relief, Inc. was established in September 1941 and this poster was probably issued the following year. Gellert’s name is signed in print on the lower right side of the image area and the lower right corner has an allied printing trades union label.  

This unrestored poster shows moderate handling wear and some toning from age.  The poster has some creasing from having been folded a bit irregularly into quarters at one time.  A small piece of tape was applied to the back on the top edge which desiccated and fell off many years ago but left a faint trace of an old tape stain at the top center.  Overall condition is very good for this vintage original.