It’s probably no secret that I’m pretty obsessed with studying the Civil War. Naturally, this fascination with the 1860s has led to a burgeoning collection of Civil War artifacts, from soldier letters and a canteen to a cartridge box and over 50 buttons–plus any relic in-between. That said, I’ve also grown as a historian and expanded my field of interest, especially after discovering that my cousin, Thelmer Ray Carver, served in World War II. With numerous photos of him, as well as a letter he wrote and postcard he mailed, I’ve discovered that I also enjoy learning more about the Second World War. My recent studies of the conflict inspired me to add two new relics to my collection–posters.
Prior to summer 2022, I had been hoping to add a World War II poster for a couple of years. Even though it might sound odd, I first recognized the artistic beauty and historical significance of World War II posters when I was dining in a 1950’s-style diner. Amid the 1950’s-themed artwork on the wall–from Elvis records to James Dean pictures–the 1940’s historical gem caught my eye. I began dreaming of the day when I could finally purchase my own World War II poster.
In the summer of 2022, I finally started shopping around and discovered a piece that I fell in love with: a 1942 poster featuring an American flag with powerful, yet simple, text beneath that read, “Give It Your Best.” I quickly contacted the seller and started negotiations. Their poster was overpriced, and I hoped I could successfully get the seller to reduce their rate. Unfortunately, after several back-and-forth emails, the seller rudely told me to shop somewhere else. While it would have been easy to get discouraged by my less-than-positive first experience with a World War II relic seller, I refused to give up. Instead, I headed to the place this rude seller had suggested I shop at–eBay.
I’ll be honest, I was a bit wary. I was hoping to find a reputable poster dealer to ensure my poster’s authenticity, and with so many reproductions on the market, I knew how easy it would be to get scammed. Finally, I found an eBay seller with a wide array of World War II posters available, as well as his own website where prices were more significantly reduced than they were on eBay (since there wasn’t eBay’s service fees to consider). I headed to the Golden Age Posters site and began shopping.
After poring through page after page of posters for sale, I was ecstatic to discover that Golden Age Posters was offering the same “Give It Your Best” poster that first captivated my interest–and at a more affordable rate. Even better, they had a second poster for sale that was visually appealing. This one depicted a rural country scene in the background, with an American flag proudly waving up front above text reading, “Make Victory Secure. Buy Victory Bonds.” Of course, they also offered posters from an array of other conflicts (World War I, Korea, Vietnam, etc.), as well as advertisements, movie posters, and political posters, to name just a few.
After corresponding with Golden Age Posters, I was able to purchase both World War II posters for around what the impolite seller was offering just one. Ecstatic, I ordered both posters and couldn’t wait for them to arrive. Also excitingly, I had purchased the posters from a seller who was courteous and willing to offer customers affordable rates.
After the posters arrived, I headed to Hobby Lobby to have them professionally framed, one at a time. Even though the framer switched halfway–and the second framer I worked with was less-than-stellar–the posters still turned out beautifully. And while Hobby Lobby offered tons of frame choices, I opted for a sleek, black metal frame so as not to detract from the posters themselves. Of course, even though buying a pre-made frame would have been more cost-effective, having the posters framed professionally meant they were equipped with a UV protective glass. Because what’s better than displaying a poster guilt-free? With UV protective glass, I don’t have to fret over the posters becoming faded and discolored from the sun’s rays. As a historian and genealogist, ensuring these posters were preserved with archival-quality methods was a top priority for me.
Now, the posters are proudly displayed on the walls of my home office (see the pictures below). Honestly, I couldn’t be more pleased with how they turned out, as they perfectly complement my historical space. For anyone hoping to enhance their space (genealogy/research room included), it’s hard to go wrong with a World War II poster. In fact, I love my posters so much, that I’m already planning to purchase more…
My World War II Posters:
