World War One Posters

The first World War is a century in the past, and it's hard for people alive today to grasp what life was like during the war.  Calla Editions's book World War One Posters: An Anniversary Collection give a glimpse into that era.  We are all familiar with the famous Uncle Sam "I want YOU for U.S. Army" recruiting poster.  Calla includes this and ninety-nine others.

Besides recruiting posters, which must have been compelling for young men looking to serve their country, there may be just as many posters for those not signing up.  Posters implore people to buy war bonds, war stamps, join the "school garden army," or knit socks for soldiers.  Only about half the posters are American.  They have included British posters, as well as posters in French and German. 

This is in interesting collection, and certainly will trigger interest in the stories behind the posters.  But I wish Calla would have provided more than the title and artist of the poster.  They do include a very brief visual description of each, but no context, no historical background, just the poster.  I would be interested in the timing and distribution of the poster, how many copies were made and where they were posted, specific events that may have triggered a poster's theme, the results of the posting (for instance, how many pairs of socks did Americans knit and send overseas?).

So view this as what the title says it is: a collection of posters.  It's a window to history that doesn't tell a lot of history, but it's a window worth looking through regardless.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!