World War I Bond Posters, ca. 1917
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GUEST:
I like to collect World War I and World War II bond posters. I taught U.S. history for over 33 years and the patriotism appeals to me. This is my artwork in my home.
APPRAISER:
And where did you acquire them?
GUEST:
I bought most of them online. I bought this one at an antiques show in Round Top in the spring.
APPRAISER:
How much did you pay for them?
GUEST:
I paid $250 for this one, about $300 for the "Fight or Buy Bonds," and $400 for the scout poster. This one was $500. It was the most expensive. But it was also already framed and it was already linen-backed.
APPRAISER:
On June 28, 1914, something very important happened.
GUEST:
Very important-- the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo in Bosnia. And it began the whole chain of events. It began World War I.
APPRAISER:
Exactly right. 100 years ago today, that assassin's bullet set in process the motion of the First World War, an absolutely earth-changing event. And this summer, the summer of 2014, is the anniversary not only of the assassination, but the anniversary of the start of the First World War. And World War I memorabilia and World War I posters, to be sure, will get a lot of extra attention. So it's a very timely thing that you brought in today.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
So, the thing about these posters is that they're not very rare. In addition to that, they are all such powerful images, they're such patriotic images, they're such beautiful images that a lot of people kept them. So there's a larger supply of these than there is a demand.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
The image closest to you, the "Joan of Arc Saved France" is a fantastic image. What is it about that image that appeals to you, particularly?
GUEST:
It's appealing to women in World War I to step up and do their part. That's important to me.
APPRAISER:
All of these posters have that common theme of a woman in a very proud, very authoritative, very powerful role. It's a wonderful thing to see. The Joan of Arc poster is the least valuable of the large posters. The Joan of Arc poster was designed by a very famous illustrator named Haskell Coffin.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And at auction, I'd say a value of it is between $100 and $150.
GUEST:
Okay, okay.
APPRAISER:
Now, closer to me, we have "Fight or Buy Bonds" by Howard Chandler Christy, one of the great artists of the First World War. And he was known for his wonderfully attractive, very patriotically bedecked maidens. This is the largest of two sizes. The value on that, between $400 and $600.
GUEST:
Okay, okay, good.
APPRAISER:
Now, the one closest to you is also Howard Chandler Christy, and it's one of his most famous images. And you said you paid how much for it?
GUEST:
I paid $500. I had not seen this commonly on the market, and so I thought it was interesting. It seemed smaller than what I thought it would be.
APPRAISER:
Yeah, I'm sorry to tell you, that one is actually a reproduction.
GUEST:
Is it, really?
APPRAISER:
The poster never existed in that size. The original would be about the size of the poster next to me.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
So $500...
GUEST:
Is a bit much, yeah.
APPRAISER:
Is a bit much. It's a great image, but it has no inherent value as a collectible or as an antique because it's not.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Now, nearest to me, we have the work of J.C. Leyendecker, who was a great illustrator of the time. Also a bond poster, also a strong woman, and this is evoking the Boy Scouts as just another way to get the American population to give more money. This one is the best of the lot.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
And at auction, I would estimate it between $400 and $600.
GUEST:
Oh, that's exciting. It sort of makes up for this one. Okay.
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