Last week we here at Pop Heist delivered a fantastic gift guide for you, or anyone in your close circle of friends who likes to decorate their homes or offices with images of conflict. Heritage Auctions, literally the best place to find high-end collectibles online, is running one heck of a sale on vintage propaganda posters from the first and second World Wars, and we wanted to let you know that you could have these delightful, if often puzzling, images all for yourself.
And typically we don't do sequels to our gift guides, but the outcry from the public [literally a single person on Bluesky; hey Lori!!!] telling us they wanted to see more of these was all the excuse we needed to publish a sequel. We're doing our part!
These posters are from a different era, a time when most of America trusted our nation and our leaders to do what was right for the country as a whole. To get swept up in the patriotic fervor of the war years was to assist the men and women fighting overseas, giving them the support and materials they needed to win, win, win. Many of the posters were very, very racist. We're not talking about them.
Please keep in mind that these prices are current as of the time of writing, Aug. 12, 2025 at 4 PM or thereabouts. The auction ends on August 16, 2025.
World War I "Christy Girl" Recruiting Poster (U.S. Navy). "Gee, I Wish I Were a Man," Howard Chandler Christy Artwork. 1917.
Hoo-boy, I'm wading right into the political waters with the first poster. Without a doubt, this poster would not be allowed by the current administration, as much as many of their members wish that the Armed Services were men-only organizations again. "A woman? Wishing she were a man? P-p-p-preposterous! Such a thing!" But there it is, over 100 years old, gender dysphoria front and center in one of the highest priced items in the auction. In fact, this poster seems to be encouraging a "Mulan"-type scenario with that subhead. That's Uncle Sam telling this little sailor to, well, at least start having some conversations with their doctor or doing some research online. Good on ya, sailor. Live your truth.
Current price: $262.50
Who's this for? You could go either direction with this. Either gift it as a prank to a rabid military hawk who has zero grasp of nuance and takes things at face value ("What ho! This woman wishes she were a gent to fight overseas! Bully for her! But such a thing is simply not done."), or anyone fighting to keep trans service people enlisted.
Where to hang it? Front hallway, so anyone who rings your doorbell can see it. Fight the good fight.
World War I Propaganda (Edwards & Deutsch Litho. Co.). "Women! Help America's Sons Win the War," R.H. Porteus Artwork. 1917.
It's Granny, the harbinger of chaos! She holds her arms out in a nurturing embrace but BEWARE, America's youth, as she presages only boating accidents and death! Corpses lie in her wake as she asks you not to peek behind her red, white, and blue shroud. If you can zoom in on her cameo you can see none other than DEATH! Or a ghost! They look a lot alike! Also it could be a snowman but that DOESN'T HELP ME MAKE MY POINT that she is a grim spectre of disaster hiding within a cinched waist! Fear grandparents! BUY WAR BONDS but fear the elderly!
Current price: $39
Who's this for? This is cheesecake for people who look up to Bud Cort in Harold and Maude, so find one of them in your life and reach out your hand in friendship. (Fashions were different back then, so I might be wrong and the woman portrayed here could be like 31.)
Where to hang it? This is a wonderful piece to display where company can see it and feel uncomfortable. At first glance? Nice patriotic poster, oh how nice, it's an antique. But look behind that flag, my friends, and it's Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights meets Faces of Death. Creep out your friends and get a reputation!
World War II Propaganda (Industrial Incentive Division Navy Department). "Think of Them," Hotchkiss and Lovell Artwork. Ca. 1940s.
War got you down? SUCK IT UP because these guys had it worse than you. They don't get vacations, they're miserable. Holy shit, like, there's a line where you can't make jokes you just have to say, "Fuck, America was not shy to find a nerve and just endlessly jab it to make you feel guilty about taking a breather." Like, I understand that people have it bad during wartime, but everyone knew that you couldn't go without a break when times were stressful. That's the kind of thing that leads to the 1950's.
Current price: $30
Who's this for? Probably no one should get this as a gift. So far there are zero bids for it on Heritage Auctions because it's just way too grim.
Where to hang it? Breakroom at work. You're taking off for your honeymoon? Did you think about Private First class Richard Hollinger USMC? Think about him for a bit and then decide if you want to jet off to Paris instead of working the register for a double.
World War II Propaganda. Character-Culture-Citizenship Guides Poster. (T.G. Nichols Co. Inc.) "I Have Grown Grey, And Now Find Myself Going Blind," Keith Ward Artwork. 1945.
According to the auction description, this was designed "to instill values of sacrifice, leadership, and patriotic duty in American students during the final year of World War II," but it comes off like George Washington is just griping to his boys about his old, failing body. This is when you kind of have to step in and say, "Now George, the other generals didn't come over to hold your time-period-inaccurate spectacles and listen to you talk about the problematic carbuncles on your hip and face that need to be drained of pus by a doctor, they came to play cards and eat peanuts." What's this even in regards to? There's no context. Is this part of an ad series called "Stray Thoughts From George Washington?" Collect them all! Classics like, "Wow, that dog is cool I wish I had a dog like that," and, "Oh my that pepper is spicy."
Current price: $30
Who's this for? This is 100% a gag gift for someone turning 40.
Where to hang it? I don't see this making much sense hanging in a home because it's such a non sequitur, but maybe this could find its way into a public library. I know, I know, libraries are all about 3D printers and teens playing D&D these days, but it could find a home among some local maps or historic newspapers.
World War II Propaganda (U.S. Government Printing Office). "I'll Give 'Em Hell, You Give Me The Stuff," Saul Tepper Artwork. 1942.
I friggin' love how nonspecific this is. STUFF! Give this GI the STUFF! Maybe the stuff is Nazi-killing juice. Maybe it's a mana potion. Maybe it's THE STUFF from the 1985 Larry Cohen horror film of the same name. Maybe he's like Gale of Waterdeep in Baldur's Gate 3 and you have to feed this soldier items like boots so he doesn't explode. All I know is that he demands stuff so he can give 'em hell. So give him your stuff. Hold a stuff drive in your neighborhood or church. Collect stuff from work to ship to the front. All it takes to give 'em hell is stuff.
Current price: $162.50
Who's this for? Legitimately, this is a gift for someone in your life who you know is into antiques but you otherwise don't know much about. Best to be as generic as you can get, this poster hates the Axis and gives us no other information.
Where to hang it? Any place where you're collecting surplus stuff, or, alternately, a place where you want to deliver hell.
World War II Propaganda (U.S. Government Printing Office). "When You Ride Alone You Ride with Hitler!" Weimer Pursell Artwork. 1943.
This one is fairly well known amongst US WWII propaganda posters just because it's so over-the-top and effective. Also, professional pest Bill Maher repurposed it for a book about the War on Terror in 2005. It envisions the ghost of Hitler literally years before hacky comic book writers came up with the same idea, although this time he's lost his license (For war crimes? Yes, for war crimes.) and has to ride shotgun with dad. But really, it's dad's fault. He's not doubling up with his co-workers and that's an automatic rideshare with ghost of Hitler.
Current price: $175
Who's this for? Ugh, Bill Maher fans, people who've invested in Uber, paranoid people who fear the ghost of Hitler because it's fun to mess with them a little bit.
Where to hang it? Let's face it, this one's not going to start many fun conversations. "But why do you have a picture of Hitler in your office?" your family will continue to ask. There's no good answer. Best leave this one and its hyperbole to a local museum's display on WWII and/or evil ghosts of WWII.
World War II Propaganda (U.S. Government Printing Office). "I Need You on the Job Full Time..." Harry Morse Meyers Artwork. 1943.
If you get hurt, I will fucking end you. See this gun? Look down the barrel and see all the freedom I'm going to put into the Germans. And you too, if you get hurt. Dear God, if there's one thing I hate more than the Axis it's people who get hurt. Don't tell me it was an accident, something unforeseen. Do you think my unibrow makes that distinction? Do you think my freedom gun does? No. Forty hours a week minimum or you get a little bit of Uncle Sam's rat-a-tat-tat. I am already so, so mad at you.
Current price: $30
Who's this for? Gun enthusiasts but also people who get off on having guns pointed at them. Yeah, they're out there. We all saw The Sopranos.
Where to hang it? Hide this one on the back of the bathroom door, so every time you close the door to use the loo you get a big gun shoved in your face. It will remind you not to hurt yourself while you're using the toilet, something that often happens to me and I'm sure others. Well worth the cost of this poster.
World War II Propaganda (U.S. Government Printing Office). "Want to See a Movie Free?" 1944.
Look, I hate AI as much as the next creative person, but I have to admit that a clanker bot isn't going to design a human being with such a wrong face, no matter how many "red haired child demon inbred face look like inbred Irish Joker" prompts you enter. I took about 20 seconds to look up what "War Bond Movies" were back then and found that "War Bond Movies" were an actual thing. Predictably, they were like 15 minutes long and promoted buying war bonds. Lots of footage of soldiers fighting, soldiers wounded, and talking heads prompting you to BUY WAR BONDS, including famed celebrity of the day, Franklin Roosevelt, famous for his fireside chats and the New Deal, which rocked. I don't really see the draw of these films for kids, since they were clearly aimed at adults with incomes, but when you're a freak-headed jackal child, maybe that's your idea of a fun afternoon.
Current price: $30
Who's this for? Internet comedians, less funny friends of internet comedians.
Where to hang it? Just by looking into the red-headed child's eyes has cursed you forever, so where you decide to hang it is irrelevant. The damage is done. HOWEVER if you have made the supreme mistake of looking into the eyes of the child standing in the back, hovering well above the others despite his smaller size, you will need to hang this in a holy place surrounded by cleansing salt, lest its evil spread to the country.
World War II Propaganda (U.S. Government Printing Office). "Less Dangerous Than Careless Talk," Albert Dorne Artwork. War. 1944.
Ha ha holy shit that's a toothy snake.
Current price: $39
Who's this for? Oh man, anyone who wants to look and feel badass. Biker gang members? Hells yeah. Tattoo artist? Fan-tastic. Debate club looking to intimidate others? Yup yup.
Where to hang it? Airbrush it on your van. You can also hang it on the inside of your van if you want to complete the look.
World War II Propaganda (U.S. Government Printing Office). OWI Poster. "Wanted! For Murder - Her Careless Talk Costs Lives." Photo by Victor Keppler. 1944.
1944 was the year the U.S. fought the Battle of Careless Talk, given how many posters like the snake and the lady were produced then. I could have shown maybe another four more from just this auction alone, including one where a clearly Nazi hand is awarding you a clearly Nazi medal for your careless talk. This one is much more tame, but still goddam that's in your face. This isn't one of the WWII women who was a spy or a spreader of venereal disease, she's just a chatty person who happened to mention where her husband or brother was stationed and BAM – she's a murderer. A hot murderer, but a murderer nonetheless. Like, maybe a murderer who's a little contrite about it but generally a good egg. A murderer who might, I don't know, want to hang out after work, grab a drink.
Current price: $69
Who's this for? Enemies of careless talk, fans of vintage hairstyles, people who followed the Casey Anthony case for the wrong reasons.
Where to hang it? Sneak this up on the wall of the sheriff's office in an old-timey ghost town theme park. See how long it takes for them to notice.
World War II Propaganda (Walt Disney Productions). "You Can't Breakfast Like a Bird and Work Like a Horse." 1943.
This is one of my favorites from the auction. Did you know Disney Studios did a ton of work for the government during the war years? From designing insignias to creating training films, the studio needed to make money while their European markets were closed off. It's one of my favorites because I'm sort of a Disney adult and I'm interested in how Disney inserted themselves into the public conversation during these key years. This poster is on display at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco! Also Donald Duck looks like shit because he eats like shit. Did you notice that the only food item listed that doesn't have an alternative is coffee? Coffee makes our men strong. Coffee will win this war.
Current price: $74
Who's this for? Savvy Disney adults who have seen "Der Fuhrer's Face" and are not on a government watchlist.
Where to hang it? It's a piece of kitsch for your kitchen! See how much has changed in 80 years? People ate enriched bread! For breakfast! They didn't take statins so they could actually eat grapefruit! Melon was considered a desirable food and not just filler for fruit salad! People had time to cook eggs! They could afford berries!
