Travel? Adventure? Answer - Join The Marines

This rare original World War I recruiting poster was created by James Montgomery Flagg in 1917 for the United States Marine Corps. Unlike many wartime recruiting posters that emphasized patriotism, duty and sacrifice, Flagg took a different approach, promoting enlistment with the promise of “Travel” and “Adventure.” Flagg depicts a smiling Marine carrying a rifle with fixed bayonet while riding a large spotted wild cat, generally identified as a leopard or jaguar. The deliberately exaggerated and humorous scene suggests the exotic places and adventures a young recruit might experience by joining the Marines. Beneath the illustration, the message reads: “Travel? Adventure? Answer—Join the Marines! Enlist To-Day for 2-3 or 4 Years.”Surviving examples were printed with different local recruiting addresses in the bottom text area. In this example, the recruiting station is in San Francisco, California.James Montgomery Flagg (1877–1960) was one of the most important American illustrators and poster artists of the early twentieth century. He worked extensively for leading magazines and produced numerous recruiting and patriotic posters during World War I. Flagg is best remembered for his famous 1917 “I Want You for U.S. Army” image of Uncle Sam, which became one of the most recognizable American posters ever created. His Marine Corps posters are among the less frequently encountered works from his wartime output.This is an Original Vintage Poster, it is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed and in very good condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.