1918 Over The Top For You Third Liberty Loan by Sidney Riesenberg WWI

Data: 1918
Artist: Riesenberg, Sidney H.
Size (in): 30 x 20
Size (cm): 76.2 x 50.8
Condition: B+
Linen Backed: No

This original antique WWI poster was created by the artist Sidney H. Riesenberg and issued by the United States government to help sell war bonds authorized by the Third Liberty Loan.  The Third Liberty Loan was enacted in April 1918 and authorized the United States government to raise an additional $3 billion for the war effort.  For this poster Riesenberg renders an arresting image of an American solider wrapped in an American flag charging forward above the title Over The Top For You which suggests to the viewer that those fighting in faraway lands were fighting for the people at home.   

Riesenberg created several posters for the Marine Corps and Liberty Loan programs and other causes during WWI and this is probably his most widely recognized.  The Smithsonian American Art Museum selected this poster for an 2007 exhibit of 44 WWI posters titled Over the Top: American Posters from World War I.  The lower margin indicates this poster was printed by Ketterlinus of Philadelphia.     

This poster is lightly used, shows moderate handling wear and has a single pinhole on each corner.    A couple short tears on the top edge and the corner pinholes were stabilized with a few small pieces of acid free repair tape applied to verso.  Overall condition is very good.