This Item Has Been Sold
“THE PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE:” An Appeal To You All For Books”
Framed Vintage British WWII Propaganda Poster
1944
H. M. Stationery Office (?) [London]
10 x 15 inches (17 3/4 x 33 3/4 inches framed)
Item Number: 206982
Description
This rare wartime propaganda poster delivers a literary message from Winston Churchill two months post-D-Day, 1944:
“In 1942 on the eve of the great campaign for the liberation of Africa, I sent you an appeal for books and periodicals for the Forces at home and abroad. Now at the opening of the battle for the liberation of Europe I renew my appeal to you.” The PM goes on to share precise instructions for donating books: “Just hand them in, unwrapped, unstamped and unaddressed to any Post Office. And once having started, keep up the good work.”
The maker of this poster would appear to be His Majesty’s Stationery Office. According to a colofon along the lower right border, it was printed by Fosh & Cross, Ltd. in an edition of 7,5000 in October 1944.
The poster measures 10 x 15 inches, and is in very good condition, just a touch browned at the edges, with a small chip midway along the right edge not affecting any text. The poster has been matted with a vintage gelatin silver print portrait photograph of Winston Churchill by J. Russell & Sons (7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches) and majestically framed (17 3/4 x 33 3/4 inches overall).
A marvelous literary relic of the war and Winston Churchill.