1943 Fascism Means Slavery Fight It! Buy More Bonds Abbott Laboratories WWII

Date: 1943
Artist: Towers (?)       
Size (in): 12.5” x 9.75”
Size (cm): 32 x 25
Condition: A-
Linen backed: No

Abbott Laboratories was a primary supplier of medical products to the United States military during WWII and commissioned a great deal of propaganda themed artwork during the conflict.   This small format poster showing a man kneeling before bayonets in a barbwire enclosed prison yard is one such example.   This stark image is bracketed by text which reads Fascism Means Slavery – Fight it! Buy More Bonds!  This image was used as a cover for Abbott Laboratories “What’s New” magazine and this example offered here is a small format poster made with the same image.  The artist’s name is signed in print in the lower left corner of the image area and appears to be “Towers” but isn’t quite legible.  

Much of this propaganda themed artwork commission by Abbott Laboratories was made it available to the federal government for reproduction on posters and for use in other ways.  This particular piece is not one that was ever used by federal government but it was included in a portfolio of WWII themed commissioned artwork issued by Abbott Laboratories in 1943 titled “All-In”.  This “All-In” portfolio included actual tipped-in mini posters, brochures, magazine covers and advertising inserts.  This All-In portfolio is extremely rare and was probably only available for use as a sales aid by the company’s salespeople.

This scarce vintage original WWII era mini poster shows only light handling wear and a few small areas of contact surface loss to paper on verso from having been tipped into the Abbott Laboratories “All-In” WWII artwork portfolio.  Overall condition is otherwise very good for this very rare vintage original.