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FAQ: World War I & II Poster Collection

  1. Do the UNT Libraries sell reproductions of its World War I & II posters?
  2. Where can I purchase an original or a reproduction of a World War I or II poster?
  3. Can I get high-resolution images of the World War I & II posters in this collection?
  4. Can you appraise my poster? How do I get an appraisal?
  5. Where can I locate other war poster collections online?
  6. How can I find out more background on a particular World War I or II poster?
  7. What are the copyright restrictions on the UNT Libraries' World War I & II poster collection?
  8. Where are the original posters at the UNT Libraries?
  9. How can I learn about the digitization process of the World War I & II posters?
 world war one library poster  world war two poster of enemy portraits  world war library poster

Do the UNT Libraries sell reproductions of its World War I & II posters?

No, the UNT Libraries does not sell reproductions of its World War I & II posters. However, see the next question for information on where to purchase reproductions.

Where can I purchase an original or a reproduction of a World War I or II poster?

Unfortunately, we cannot print copies of posters for the general public at the UNT Libraries.  

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) sells reproductions of its posters: Posters & Facsimiles: World War II (includes PDF catalog and ordering information). To order or to request a catalog by phone, call 1-800-234-8861.

Several online vendors sell rare or vintage posters:

You can also try searching specific online auction sites such as Ebay. Keep in mind that art objects sold at auctions are often in poorer condition or are less rare than art objects sold through museums and galleries, therefore they tend to be worth less.

Should they not have what you desire, you may wish to contact a local poster/print shop, or used & rare book dealer.

Can I get high-resolution images of the World War I & II posters in this collection?

We cannot provide CDs or DVDs on which to copy these images, nor can we print copies of posters for the general public.  We may provide copies of larger or archival-quality images on a case-by-case basis:

  • at the discretion of the Government Documents Department.
  • if the patron brings their own recordable media (CD, DVD, USB-drive).
  • only if advance notice is given. We do not have instant access to the majority of the images contained in the UNT Digital Collections.
  • if interested in high-resolution images, please contact the Librarian for Digital Collections, Starr Hoffman (starr.hoffman [at] unt.edu). 

Can you appraise my poster? How do I get an appraisal?

No, the staff of the UNT Libraries are neither qualified nor permitted to provide appraisals of works of art.

You can usually find a professional appraiser in the Yellow Pages, listed under the heading "Appraisers."

The following sites offer various levels of appraisal and provide some tips on how professional appraisals are done, what kinds of appraisals are available, and how to determine whether you need one:

The following Web sites also list appraisers and provide contact information:

If you do not wish to pay for a professional appraisal, and you are merely looking for a general estimate of what your item might be worth, the following agencies provide free estimates. Keep in mind that if these agencies are hoping to buy from you, their estimates may be artificially low.

Auction Estimates (Sotheby's)
Learn how much your property is likely to be worth at a Sotheby’s auction. Allow about four to six weeks for a reply.
Ballpark Valuations (The Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd.)
These are general price categories of prints that you can use to get at least some information on your items without paying a fee. These categories do not include a dollar value, but give a general sense of the “valuation” of the item in question.

Where can I locate other war poster collections online?

How can I find out more background on a particular World War I or II poster?

Some dealers or collectors may be able to provide you with additional information.  See our list of information for collectors.

You can also read further on this topic using our selective bibliography:

  • Bird Jr., William L. and Harry R. Rubenstein. Design for Victory: World War II Posters on the American Home Front. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1998.
  • Borkan, Gary. World War I Posters. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2002.
  • Colman, Penny. Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Home Front in World War II. New York: Crown Publishers, 1995.
  • Hunter, Sarah Lilly and Ellen Shields McStay. All Together!: World War I Posters of the Allied Nations. Dallas: Dallas Historical Society, 1983.
  • Judd, Denis. Posters of World War Two. London: Wayland Publishers Ltd., 1972.
  • Laurie, Clayton. The Propaganda Warriors: America's Crusade Against Nazi Germany. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas, 1996.
  • Library of Congress. Documentary Poster Collection: WWI volume P&P 34. Washington: Library of Congress Photoduplication Service, 1978.
  • Paret, Peter, et al. Persuasive Images: Posters of War and Revolution from the Hoover Institution Archives. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1992.
  • Posters of World War I and World War II in the George C. Marshall Research Foundation. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 1979.
  • Rhodes, Anthony. Edited by Victor Margolin. Propaganda - The Art of Persuasion: World War II. London: Angus & Robertson, 1975.
  • Smithsonian Institution. U.S. World War I Posters. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1970(?).
  • Stanley, Peter. What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?. Melbourne, New York: Oxford University Press, 1983.
  • Westbrook, Robert, "Fighting for the American Family, Private Interests and Political Obligation in World War II," in The Power of Culture, Critical Essays in American History. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993.
  • Winkler, Allan. The Politics of Propaganda: the Office of War Information 1942-1945. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1978. [Focuses on the organization's history and general strategies, mentions ads and brochures, not emphasizing posters.]
  • Zeman, Zbynek. Selling the War: Art and Propaganda in World War II. London: Orbis Publishing Limited, 1978.

What are the copyright restrictions on the UNT Libraries' World War I & II poster collection?

Regarding all government documents digital collections:

  • 1.1   The UNT Libraries cannot grant or deny permission to reproduce these images, as we are not the copyright holders for the original documents.
  • 1.2   Many, but not all, government documents are in the public domain.  You may check the original and/or digital versions to check for a copyright symbol and author name(s).
  • 1.3   If you use a digital image from one of our collections, we request that you credit us as a source by including our institution name and the object’s URL.  Please do this regardless of whether you publish the image in print or online.  For example:
  • [image]
  • University of North Texas Libraries
  • http://digital.library.unt.edu/data/govdocs/atoz/02/meta-dc-1806.tkl

See our copyright policy page or our general digital collections policies for further information.

Where are the original posters at the UNT Libraries?

The original World War I & II posters that were digitized by the UNT Libraries are located in the Government Documents Department on the third floor of the Willis Library. These items are located in a locked Map Room and are non-circulating, so if you wish to request to view these items, please visit during our reference desk hours (or contact us to schedule an appointment).

How can I learn about the digitization process of the World War I & II posters?


Information about this collection is modeled on that provided by Northwestern University for their own World War II poster collection.

This page is maintained by Starr Hoffman — last modified Friday, May 29, 2009. 01:58 PM
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