1943 Wickwire Spencer Steel Co. Boris A Artzybasheff Anti-Axis Hitler Monkey

Date: 1943
Artist: Artzybasheff, Boris
Size (in): 21.5” x 17”
Size (cm): 54.6 x 43.2
Condition: B+
Linen backed: No

This is a vintage original WWII era offset advertising poster created by Ukrainian born American illustrator Boris Artzybasheff for the Wickwire Spencer Steel Company of Buffalo, New York.

Artzybasheff created a series of these posters for the Wickwire Spencer Steel Company during WWII with each one rendering a surreal image of the company’s steel products destroying or menacing the Axis powers in a variety of creative and fantastical ways. This poster is printed with a 1943 copyright by the Wickwire Spencer Steel Company and mocks Hitler in the form of a large monkey contained with monkeys behind a chain link fence. Chain link fencing was the core product of the Wickwire Spencer Steel Company.

This vintage original poster shows modest toning from age on the margins and light handling wear as well as well as light scattered foxing on the right margin. The original owner punched two small holes neatly on the left margin and there is a short tear of about a half inch without paper loss on the right edge, both of which could be repaired easily with basic linen backing. Overall condition is very good for this rare piece from one of the most prolific and important illustrators of the 20th century.