Between the Covers

Unbound. Broadside measuring 9.5" x 11.5". Color illustration. Slight toning and some creasing thus very good. A 1945 pictorial broadside intended to recruit women to serve in the Nurse Corps during World War II. The image depicts a desolate military battlefield, with partially destroyed buildings in background and a wounded soldier in foreground, lying on his back, holding his rifle at his side with left hand, and with his right hand reaching upward toward the sky, to the dream-like image of a woman nurse in military uniform and floating beneath the nurse is a dramatic depiction of the gold military pin of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Beneath this is a four-line quote from Douglas MacArthur, which begins: "The Army nurse is the symbol to the soldier of help and relief in his hour of direst need... Her comfort knows no parallel. In the hearts of our fighting men she is enshrined forever." The artist of the broadside ('Ramus '45') may be Michael Ramus [1917-2005], who was born in Naples, Italy, attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Yale University and studied at the Art Students League in New York City. According to his obituary, "He served four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, where his duties included painting war-time patriotic posters... He became a commercial illustrator and cartoonist for major magazines... Also a painter and sculptor, he worked in a variety of media... He was a member of the Society of Illustrators in New York City.” Published on April 11, 1945, by the Recruiting Publicity Bureau of the U. S. Army [stating: "PC- 113-- RPB- 4-11-45 - 80M" in lower corner margin of broadside].

Item #527338