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Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case Y, Shelf 60, Box E

Shoptalk may be Sabotalk

Poster
ca. 1939-1945 (made)
Artist/Maker
Wartime Information Board, Ottawa Canada (issuer)
Morris (artist)
Place of origin
Canada (made)

This poster is a World War II appeal for civilian discretion in Canada. The message is that even casual conversations about wartime production can potentially sabotage the Allied war effort.


Object details

Categories
Prints
Propaganda
Posters
Object type
Poster
TitleShoptalk may be Sabotalk (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Paper
Ink
Colour Lithography
Brief description
"Shoptalk may be Sabotalk" civilian vigilance propaganda poster. Canada, World War II.
Physical description
Large ear formed of diagonal stripes, with a red factory protruding from the ear drum. Dark blue text above, yellow text below.
Dimensions
  • Height: 62.1cm
  • Width: 46.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Shoptalk may be/ Sabotalk (in dark blue on light blue ground)
  • THE WALLS HAVE EARS (yellow on black, across lower margin)
  • Issued by Wartime Information Board Ottawa Canada Design, Courtesy Walls Have Ears Organization/ AG-18
  • from the Collection of David Weisman (stamped along vertical right margin, in black ink)
  • MORRIS (signed in white)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Object history
Another impression exists in rare books and special collections of the McGill Library (McGill University, Montreal) (under 'Canadian Prints')
Subjects depicted
Secrecy
Propaganda
Politics
War
World War II
Place depicted
Canada
Summary
This poster is a World War II appeal for civilian discretion in Canada. The message is that even casual conversations about wartime production can potentially sabotage the Allied war effort.
Other number
LS.610 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.285-2004

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Record createdAugust 16, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102392/shoptalk-may-be-sabotalk-poster-morris/
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