1942 The Sound That Kills Don’t Murder Men With Idle Words Eric Ericson WWII

Date: 1942
Artist: Ericson, Eric
Size (in): 19.875” x 14.25”
Size (cm): 50.5 x 36.2
Condition: B
Linen backed: No

This vintage original poster is OWI Poster No. 1, the first of many home front propaganda posters issued by the United States Office of War Information during WWII. This poster was created by the artist Eric Ericson in a comic strip format to deliver the “Loss Lips Sink Ships” message. The comic strip style storyboard titled “The Sound That Kills” shows how idle chatter in a coffee shop picked up by a German spy results in the sinking of an American merchant ship named Exeter with the lower border titled “Don’t Murder Men With Idle Words”.

The lower margin indicates “For additional copies write to Graphics Division, Office of War Information, Washington D.C.; Specify OWI No. 1”. Also indicated is a 1942 date by the US GPO. The artist’s name “Ericson” is signed in print on the last panel. This poster was issued folded and has about an inch of separation on the centerfold line at the top edge. The poster has a couple short tears on the top edge and small nick off the margin on the top edge. This poster also has a VFW ink hand stamp near the lower right hand corner and the original owner made some pencil notations on the back of the poster which don’t affect the front side. The poster retains strong color and is in very good condition overall.