1943 When You Ride Alone You Ride With Hitler Weimer Pursell WWII Home Front

Date: 1943
Artist: Pursell, Weimer
Size (in): 27.75” x 21.25”
Size (cm): 70.5 x 54
Condition: B
Linen backed: Yes

This vintage original WWII poster was created by the noted graphic designer Weimer Pursell and issued during WWII to encourage Americans to carpool as part of the overall effort to conserve gasoline, oil, tires and other materiel vitally needed for the war effort.

A square looking fellow in fedora selfishly drives his car with no passengers except for the ghostly figure of Hitler in the passenger seat with the title When You Drive ALONE You Drive With Hitler! Join a Car-Sharing Club TODAY! Carpooling became a necessity for many during WWII since the US government froze the sale of automobiles to civilians on January 1, 1942.  William Pursell was born in Tennessee and moved to Chicago in the 1920s to enroll at the Chicago Art Institute. Pursell produced several WWII posters and also designed posters and other advertising for major clients including American Airlines, Coca-Cola and for the Western Winchester subsidiary of Olin Corporation among others.

This vintage original poster has been professionally linen backed with some touchup and small repairs expertly applied including repair to a single pinhole on each corner and a tear of about two inches without paper loss on the right edge. The poster was folded originally and some wear on the fold lines and a couple lateral creases have been mitigated with the recent linen backing. The poster retains strong color and displays very nicely. Overall condition is very good.