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It's a grand and glorious feeling. Enlist in the WAVES. Vintage WWII Recruitment

Creator: John Philip Falter
Offered by: The Great Republic

Description
Presented is an original WWII Navy Recruitment poster by artist John Falter, issued on November 16, 1943. The recruitment poster depicts a young woman in a U.S. Navy uniform saluting a young boy, who is saluting back. His parents stand on either side of him, enthusiastic of the exchange. The top text reads, “It’s a grand and glorious feeling,” in yellow block text. At the bottom the text, “Enlist in the WAVES” appears in blue script and block letters. The poster urges women to inquire at any Navy Recruiting Station or Office of Naval Officer Procurement.

Approved by Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) program recruited women between 18 and 36 years old, and officers between 20 and 50, to serve onshore in the continental United States. Starting in 1944, many of these women also served in Alaska and Hawaii. The aim of the program was to enlist women to clerical jobs, in effort to free up male personnel for sea duty.

The WAVES program offered women who weren’t nurses the first chance to serve in the Navy. In addition to clerical and hospital jobs, the majority of WAVES were assigned to naval aviation units. Women maintained aircraft, tested parachutes, were domestic air traffic controllers and weather specialists, and trained men in navigation and gunnery. For a significant number of enlisted WAVES, the war provided the opportunity to work at jobs usually open only to men. During WWII, it is estimated that over 90,000 women served in the WAVES at enlisted and officer ranks.

John Philip Falter (1910-1982) developed his artistic skills at an early age, even designing a mural for his local soda shop when still a teenager. For a few years, Falter worked as a comic strip artist on a strip entitled Down Thru the Ages, for the local Falls City Journal, in Falls City, Nebraska. He expanded his talents at the Kansas City Art Institute. After graduating, he won a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York City.

Falter’s first steady job started in 1933 withLiberty Magazine. For $75 dollars a week, he was hired to create three illustrations weekly. Increasingly aware of the lucrative nature of advertisements, the artist began seeking opportunities for such work. Some of his regular advertising clients included Gulf Oil, Four Roses Whiskey, Arrow Shirts, and Pall Mall.

Falter was very busy in 1943. Following the onset of World War II, the artist enlisted in the Navy. He was promoted rapidly, while designing over 300 recruiting posters for the government. Many of them served domestic purposes and were geared toward women, like the WAVES campaign.

CONDITION:

Good condition, considering age and past use. Original color lithograph. Prominent center fold line and creases throughout, due to past storage. Tear at bottom right margin, into yellow background. Printed on thinner paper. "Order No. 58" and "Navpers- NRB- 39360-16 Nv 43- 40M." are printed in the bottom margin. Sold unframed, as-is.

Poster Dimensions: 41 1/2"H x 28" W

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.

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Message from Seller:

Established in 2010, The Great Republic specializes in one-of-a-kind collectibles that honor American history, with a special focus on the rare and unique. Our collection is complete with rarities that are sure to wow, such as first edition books, antique hand-sewn flags from the Civil War, vintage travel posters, and original signatures from American presidents, such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, just to name a few. P: 719.471.6157 E: headquarters@great-republic.com