1942 China First To Fight! United China Relief Martha Sawyers WWII

Date: 1942
Artist: Sawyers. Martha     
Size (in): 41” x 27” 
Size (cm): 104.1 x 68.6 
Condition: B
Linen backed: No  

This vintage original and rare poster was created by the artist Martha Sawyers and issued by the United China Relief (U.S.) charitable aid agency. The United China Relief (U.S.) aid agency was formed in New York City in 1941 as an amalgamation of several smaller organizations working to aid China following the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in the 1930s.   

For this poster, Sawyers renders an image of a Chinese family with the father a solider along with his injured wife and child.  All look resolutely directly at the viewer under the title CHINA First To Fight!, a reference to Japan’s brutal invasion of Manchuria which predated war in Europe by several years. Text below the image indicates UNITED CHINA RELIEF Participating In National War Fund.      

This vintage original poster was issued folded and shows moderate handling wear and some toning from age. The poster was folded slightly irregularly and shows some lateral creasing along the lateral fold lines.   The poster has staple holes on the corners and at the center margin on the right and left side.  There is a small notch off the margin on the right side near the upper corner which is confined to the margin and doesn’t encroach into the image area .  This poster also has a small quarter inch spot near the bottom center.  This poster is free of tape and retains the original colors.  Overall condition is very good.