Lot 160
[World War I] "Gee!! I Wish I Were A Man I'd Join the Navy" by Howard Chandler Christy. Original World War I poster, 1917, 40 x 26¼ in. Linen backed. The sassy miss in a sailor's uniform embodies the "Christy Girl." She urges, "Be A Man And Do It United States Navy Recruiting Station 1003 Main Street, Hartford." Actually, the lass pictured here DID join the Navy: the story goes that Bernice Smith, the model for this poster, had announced her desire to join the Navy in exactly the terms stated on the poster. Christy overheard her and promptly painted her in sailor's blues. Ten days after she was painted, Smith enlisted in the Navy, serving as a yeoman for three years.
By the time of World War I, Christy (1873-1952) was one of the most famous artists and illustrators in the world. His work appeared in many books and in all the major magazines of the day - Harpers, Scribner's, Century, McClures, etc. The posters that he created for the war effort, especially for the Red Cross and Navy, are some of the most popular war posters.
Theofiles 46.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
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| Realized $900 |
