Artist: George Petty
Condition: B+ *
Dimensions: 26.6 x 40.4 in. / 67.6 x 102.6 cm.
Circa: 1933
Linen Backed
* See Condition Grading section for further details
The poster was folded twice horizontally and professional restoration has been performed to address surface paper loss along the fold lines; airbrushing has been performed along the margins to address losses and tears; some creasing in image; some surface scuffs/abrasions; following restoration, this rare Chicago World's Fair poster should display very nicely once framed.
A deeply Chicago piece. The allegorical "I Will" figure who is the city's enduring motto personified, wears an eagle headdress and gestures forward, a Native American face representing 1833 Chicago ghosted in orange behind her, and a US map marking the city's place at the nation's center. Bold two-color printing in orange and blue gives it a graphic authority that more elaborate Fair posters lack.
The poster was issued as a railroad promotional piece encouraging visitors to travel to the Fair by train, which gives it crossover appeal for both World's Fair and American railroad collectors. The "I Will" motto and the 1833-to-1933 framing make it one of the more historically resonant posters from the series.