Vintage Poster Archives
Uncle Sam Navy Recruitment 1917 | Frederick Sanborn WW1 Poster
Uncle Sam Navy Recruitment 1917 | Frederick Sanborn WW1 Poster
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Uncle Sam stands in his star-spangled regalia, trumpet raised to summon Americans to naval service. Behind him, a bald eagle spreads its wings while a warship's cannon erupts with black smoke, the symbols of American power converging in a single patriotic appeal.
Designed by Frederick Sanborn for the US Navy in 1917, this recruitment poster depicts the urgent call to service that followed America's entry into World War I. The composition layers the flag-draped figure of Uncle Sam with the national bird and naval might, creating a visual manifesto of wartime duty.
Sanborn's design served recruiting stations nationwide, including the Boston office at 145 Tremont Street referenced in the original text. His illustrative approach exemplifies the bold graphic style that defined American WWI propaganda posters.
A resonant piece for those drawn to the visual language of wartime communication, or the evolution of American patriotic imagery through periods of national mobilisation.
