c.1969 SANE Anti Ballistic Missile System Protest Edward Sorel Vietnam War

Date: c.1969
Artist: Sorel, Edward         
Size (in): 36” x 24”
Size (cm): 92 x 61 
Condition: B/B-
Linen backed: No 

This vintage original c.1969 poster was created by Edward Sorel for SANE, a nonprofit organization founded in 1957 to advocate against the development and deployment of nuclear weapons and to promote common security and peaceful resolution to international conflicts.  For this poster Sorel renders a political cartoon style image which could have been inspired by the 1964 political comedy black satire film Dr. Strangelove bracketed by the title: From the people who brought you Vietnam: The anti ballistic missile system.  Text below criticizes the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) System being developed by the Nixon Administration as a “Maginot Line in the Sky” as described by the New York Times editorial page.  Additional text at the bottom lists the Board of Directors and Honorary Sponsors of SANE.

Edward Sorel, born 1929, is a celebrated American illustrator, caricaturist, cartoonist, graphic designer and author. His wavy pen-and-ink style, which he described as “spontaneous direct drawing” appeared frequently in major publications including The Nation, New York Magazine, The Atlantic and Vanity Fair among others.  Sorel also co-founded the influential Push Pin Studios along with Milton Glaser, Seymour Chwast, and Reynold Ruffins in 1953.

This vintage original poster isn’t dated but similar text was used by SANE in other published forms in 1969 so the poster is likely from that year.   This poster shows moderate handling wear, some toning form age and a couple minor scuffs and small spots.  There is a small puncture without paper loss on the right edge a few inches below Sorel’s printed signature.  The edges look very slightly trimmed and the back of the poster shows bit of staining from a single piece of tape applied to each lower corner which dried up and fell off a long time ago.  This rare poster displays very well and we don’t locate another copy at auction or anywhere else.