Sealed Lips Will Save Our Ships

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A sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy holds his finger to his lips reminding people to keep silent.  Issued by the director of Public Information, under authority of the Minister of National War Services, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada.  AGE-6. This is a small poster, measuring 12" x 9".

BEWARE - The Walls Have Ears

Don't derail the war effort!

BEWARE - The Walls Have Ears.  Artwork by Jac Leonard.  At the top a train is exploding and and the pictures tell a story of how casual conversation overheard by the wrong person allowed the information to flow to saboteurs.  Issued by Wartime Information Board, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada.  Design, courtesy Walls Have Ears Organization.  AG-19.  This poster is 24.5" x 18.25".

There is too much loose talk

By the time you finish reading this, the war will be over.

This is one text - heavy poster. It is Essential that every man, woman and child take a part in the war effort.  There is too much Loose Talk about Navy, Army, Air Force and Production Matters.  To serve in silence s the duty of every citizen in or out of uniform.  Issuec by the director of Public INformation, Under Authority of Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada  AG-12R. The poster is 24" x 17".

The Merchant Service is Silent, Too

Even though I look Russian, I am Canadian.

The Merchant Service is Silent, Too.  Don't talk about cargos or ship salings.  A sailor in a pea coat and a bushy hat stares sternly out to sea.  The poster measures 24.5" x 18.25" and the photo is by Nicholas Morant, N.F.B.  Issued by wartime information board, Ottawa, printed in Canada.  W1B-3E.

A SPY doesn't look like this

We're on to you, Mister.

A SPY doesn't look like this A SPY may look like this.  Don't Talk about troop movements - ship sailings - war work - munitions shipments. This poster is 24.5" x 18.25".  A Canadian poster reminding people that spys may look like the man next door, not a sinister caricature.  Issued by War Information Board, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada - W1B-IE.

Somebody Talked - The Walls Have Ears

Spies are everywhere in Canada.

On a dark sea black smoke belches from a burning merchant ship.  Along the bottom:  Issued by Wartime Information Board, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada.  Design, courtesy of "Walls Have Ears" Organization  AG-20. This poster is 24.5" x 18.25".

Zip Those Lips!

And throw away the key

No text, just a photo of a man zipping his lips to remind people not to speak about sensitive topics. This is a small poster, only about 12" x 16". I guess it is to remind people not to speak about sensitive topics. Printed in Canada - Issued by the director of Public Information, Under Authority of the Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa. Code AG-10E.

CARELESS WORDS may cause DISASTER

Canadian sailor says, "Shhh . . ."

The telltale trail of torpedo bubbles heads toward ships in a convoy.  A sailor alongside the drawing of the unfolding disaster reminds Canadians that talk can have consequences.  Issued by The Director of Public Information, Under Authority of Hon. J.T. Thorson, Minister of National War Services, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada AG-11EL.  There are two identical posters in this collection, each one is 24" x 17".

Shoptalk may be Sabotalk - THE WALLS HAVE EARS

Never put anything in your ear but your elbow.

A giant ear hovers over a factory, reminding Canadian citizens to be careful with their words.  The artist, noted on the lower right, is Morris. I like the design and color scheme of this poster very much.  Issued by the Wartime Information Board, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada.  Design, courtesy Walls Have Ears Organization. 24.5" x 18".

Danke Schon - "Thanks for the Tip-off"

A finderlohn for you!

A sinister looking, smiling German U-Boat captain leans over the side of his U-Boat's conning tower.  In the background, in silhouette, is a sinking ship.  The clear implication is that the Captain used information gathered by spies from people not careful about secrecy.  Issued by the Wartime Information Board - Produced by National Film Board, Ottawa.  Printed in Canada.  Code No. - 7E. 24.5" x 18".

I was a victim of CARELESS TALK

A ghostly image of a man above a sunken ship, broken in two, laying at the bottom of the sea.  The artist is Harry Mayerovitch a Montreal artist, architect, and author. It is one of a number of posters Mayerovitch produced during the Second World War, during which he also headed the Wartime Information Board's Graphic Arts Division.  It is published by the Wartime Information Board, Ottawa.  This particular item is quite small (10" x 8") and includes a thread on the top, as if it was designed to be hung on the wall or next to a door. The collection also contains a larger poster (24.5" x 18") of this identical image.

a careless word . . . another cross

A stark white grave marker on brown dirt background with a GI helmet and ammo belt slung across it.  OWI Poster No. 23.  1943-O-501237.  Artist is John Atherton. Large poster, 40" x 28", in fine shape.  This is quite a famous image, and is even in the MoMa collection.

Somebody Blabbed. Button Your Lip!

Don't talk about anything.

The artist commissioned for this poster is Albert Dorne.  On a blood red background an outstretched hand lies limply next to a the smoking butt of a rifle.  GPO Jacket No. 451239.  This particular poster appears to have been hung or displayed at some point in the past.  It is more worn at the folds than others in the collection.  Interestingly, it is also notarized.  There is an embossed / raised seal on the lower right corner reading, "Notarial Seal Ramsey County, Minn." The poster is 20" x 14".

SOMEONE TALKED!

I am pointing at you.

In the dark of night, illuminated only by the reflection of the moon off the water, a sailor slips below the surface of an icy sea. But not before pointing directly at the the person who doomed his voyage and led to his death. This is a very large poster, 40" x 28".  The artist is Frederick Siebel.  The poster is noted as OWI # 18, 1942-O-496733.

A careless word . . . A NEEDLESS SINKING

Row row row your lifeboat.

This is a large poster, 37" x 28".  Printed along the bottom is OWI Poster No. 24.  1942-O-502219.  The poster shows men in a lifeboat in the right lower foreground rowing away from a burning ship in the background.  The artist is Anton Otto Fischer.

If you tell where he's going . . . He may never get there!

So long, Sailor

A member of the U.S. Navy, duffel of belongings over his shoulder, heads off to war.  This poster from 1943 is 28" x 20" and was drawn by John Falter, USNR.

WARNING: The sharp ears of Enemy Agents are always listening

Right to the point

This is the first of may Canadian posters included in the collection.  Like many of the posters from the USA, this poster implores Canadian citizens to keep any and all information that may be useful to the enemy to themselves.  You never know who might be listening.  The poster is 30" x 20" and I was unable to determine the year of publication, or much more information about it.

. . . because somebody talked!

That is one sad Cocker Spaniel

Another poster encouraging Americans to keep any information about the war to themselves.  Families with members serving in the Armed Forces displayed a banner as above with a blue star.  If that family member was killed, the banner displayed a gold star.  In this 1944 poster by Wesley Heyman (there is not much information out there about Mr. Heyman) a dog rests on the navy collar of a serviceman killed in action.  The poster is 20" x 14".

Americans Suffer when careless talk kills!

The man's stare really captures his anger.

This 1943 poster by Harry Anderson is to encourage Americans to keep any information about the war to themselves.  Like War Bonds, this 'secrecy' theme is very common with these posters.  The poster measures 20" x 14".

I'm Counting On You!

Uncle Sam says, "Shhhhh."

This poster is also small.  10.5" x 7.5".  So approximately the size of a normal piece of paper.  It is noted as OWI Poster # 78 and is from 1943.  Uncle Sam holds his index finger to his lips, requesting silence.  There are two in this collection.  Artist is noted as Leon Helguera.