WWII Poster "You Buy 'Em - We'll Fly 'Em - DEFENSE BOND" (Wilkinsons, 1942")

Description

Classic ORIGINAL early-war full color Offset-Lithograph, dated 1942.
This poster has been widely reproduced, but this is an unbacked original in
NEAR MINT
condition!
CONDITION:
+
ZERO
tears, tack holes, paper loss, missing corners, repairs, stains, handwriting, or fading!
+ One single old fold line, mid-center from where it was folded in an envelope mailer from the
U.S.G.P.O.
in 1942.
THEME:
Defense Bond Stamps; U.S. Army Air Corps; Home Front morale
SIZE:
10' x 14" (25cm. x  36cm.)
TEXT / TITLE:
"You buy 'em / we'll fly 'em"
(in bright red).
"DEFENSE BOND STAMPS"
(in black).
This 1942  poster from the
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
done by J. Walter Wilkinson was created in several different sizes during World War 2, this being one of the smaller, frameable sizes, 10" x 14" and is one of the most attractive, iconic and desirable posters of the war, issued in the opening months of the war!
ARTIST(s):
This poster bears the signature of the father-son team of the
"Wilkinsons"
(J. Walter Wilkinson, 1892-1988, and his son, Walter G. Wilkinson, 1917-1971).
During World War II the "
Wilkinsons"
created a series of six war bond posters for the
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
. The original rendering now rests in the
National Archive
in Washington, D.C..
Walter Wilkinson was born on January 19, 1892, in Pocomoke City on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  The family moved to Baltimore where his father was prominent in the legislature and was, at one time,
Chairman of the House
in Annapolis.
J. Walter Wilkinson studied art in Italy, worked for an advertising agency in Philadelphia, and, in 1914, married Frances Gandy, the eldest daughter of George S. Gandy of Philadelphia.  They had a daughter, Virginia, who, at the age of 16, was the model for his
Saturday Evening Post
cover of October 29, 1932.
J. Walter Wilkinson was an academic painter who studied in Italy and worked for advertising agencies in Philadelphia. He specialized in outdoors landscapes, but also created many commercial artworks for advertising campaigns including
Ivory Soap
,
Pabst Beer,
and
Ballantine Ale
as well as covers for
Ladies Home Journal
and the
Saturday Evening Post.
His son, Walter G. Wilkinson, who also became an artist, worked with his father a number of years.  They had a unique signature of two figures with a paint brush over their shoulders and an
's'
added to the Wilkinson name.
The Wilkinsons became well known in the 'outdoor advertising' field and received top awards in 1950 and 1951.
IMAGE:
The striking image is of a smiling
U.S. Army Air Corps
pilot in an open cockpit, signaling with a 'thumbs up' that he's ready for take off. Overhead is a  flight of
Douglas SBD DAUNTLESS's
in formation, the red and white markings on their tail assemblies contrasting against an a clear blue sky. The
DAUNTLESS
was used by the
U.S. Navy
both as a scout plane and a dive bomber.
The pilots equipment is depicted with stunning accuracy: he's wearing a khaki cotton
FLYING SUIT
and a
wool gabardine
A-8 SUMMER FLYING HELMET
with the detachable Leather
CHIN CUP.
Attached to the Helmet are pressed leather, rigger-sewn
EAR CUPS
that hold his
HS-23 HEADSET
with either
R-14
or
ANB-H-1 RECEIVERS
. A pair of
AN-6530 FLYING GOGGLES
from
American Optical
sits atop his Flying Helmet.
In the background is
HANGER
with personnel on the ground wearing a
SEAT PARACHUTES.
This image was the idea behind the poster for that featured Ben Affleck for the movie,
"Pearl Harbor
."
Many of the original War Bond posters became the basis for later movie posters.
Emblazoned below the pilot's image across the body of the airplane cockpit (center) are the words
DEFENSE BOND STAMPS
; to the right of the cockpit is a smaller image showing the statue of the
Concord "Minute Man"
with his left hand on a plow and his right hand holding a rifle, with the words,
"THE MORE BONDS YOU BUY - THE MORE PLANES WILL FLY"
encircling him.
PRINTING DATA:
Printed in the left corner below the image,
"Form D.D.S. 178"
Printed in the right corner below the image,
"U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-436100"