Join the ATS! – Abram Games – 1943 – Design 1

This is the recruitment poster that caused an outcry! The artist Abram games was tasked with producing a recruitment poster for the ATS. The ATS was like any other call up for recruits and was not a very glamorous occupation. Games was given the job of trying to get younger women to join the Auxiliary Territorial Army. He did it by designing a poster that made the role look glamorous and  something that young women would want to join. Using a genuine map room assistant, Doreen Murphy, as his model, he deliberately glamourised the role by turning Doreen, a brunette, into a blonde, giving her red lipstick and putting the cap on her head at an angle.

10,000 copies of the poster were printed and displayed in recruiting offices and train stations across the country. But his ‘blonde bombshell’ poster triggered complaints. It was deemed too sexy, not least from Conservative MP and feminist Thelma Cazalet-Kier. After an outburst in the House of Commons the 10,000 copies of the poster were ordered to be torn down from recruitment offices and public buildings.

The vast majority of the 10,000 WWII recruitment posters were pulped but it is known that a handful of them survive today. Because of their rarity, these poster rarely come on the market, the last one in 2019 went under the hammer with a guide price of £5000.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as a fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a print and frame for a great price.