Men of the empire to arms! God save the king! / H.W. & V., Ld. – Historic Reproduction
![Men of the empire to arms! God save the king! / H.W. & V., Ld., London : Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, [1914] — vintage poster](https://images.jameslantos.com/img/c4/c4d91f182486-L.webp)
(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)
Description
This rare vintage poster captures Men of the empire to arms! God save the king! / H.W. & V., Ld. in remarkable detail. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.
The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. Perfect for a home, office, library or classroom wall, and a gift with a story behind it. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.
Men of the empire to arms! God save the king! / H.W. & V., Ld.
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The poster's appeal is addressed to "Men of the Empire," a broader call than a plea to Britons alone, and it closes with a royal invocation, "God save the king," beneath a small armorial device of King George V. It was issued by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in London, which was set up in the first months of the First World War, when Britain still depended on volunteers. Britain did not introduce conscription until 1916, so posters like this one carried much of the recruiting effort. The line "We are fighting for a worthy purpose" gives the message its moral framing, presenting enlistment as service to a cause rather than only to the crown.
| Created / published | London : Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, [1914] |
|---|---|
| Medium | 1 print (poster) : lithograph, color ; 82 x 55 cm. |
| Genre | with small armorial device of King George V. Poster no. 4. W. 8004 11/14. Title from item." |
| Notes | Text continues: We are fighting for a worthy purpose |
| Subjects | World War, 1914-1918--Recruiting & enlistment--Great Britain. Recruiting & enlistment--England--1910-1920. |
| Source | Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division |
| Original scan | 4,014 × 5,000 px · prints to 13 × 17 in at 300 dpi |
| Reference | 1546_Men_of_the_empire_to_ar_1914 |
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