c.1942 Clear The Tracks For War Shipments Order Coal Now Photomontage WWII

Date: c.1942
Artist: Unknown
Size (in): 28” x 20”
Size (cm): 71.1 x 50.8
Condition: A-
Linen backed: No

This vintage original and rare WWI era poster was issued by the United States Bituminous Coal Consumers Counsel to help encourage Americans on the Home Front to order coal early thus freeing up the nation’s railroads to help move essential wartime materiel. A train with flatbed railcars moves dozens of US Army halftracks in a striking photomontage design that may have drawn inspiration from the European avant-garde artists that pioneered that artform during the early interwar period.

This poster isn’t dated but the U.S. Bituminous Coal Consumers’ Counsel was established in 1935 and operated under the Office of Emergency Management during wartime until it was abolished in August 1943.  We would thus date this poster probably 1942 or 1943.

This vintage original poster has no tape or pinholes and shows just light handling wear. This poster is folded as issued and overall condition is very good.