Otto Soglow: V for Victory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k64nOQ7zAMw

On July 19, 1941, the "V for Victory" campaign was embraced by Winston Churchill. It rapidly took hold in the United States as well, even before Pearl Harbor. In the pages of The New Yorker, cartoonist Otto Soglow's pushcart vendor knew just how to put his marketing skills to work and do the V sign one better. Or Soglow may just be having fun with the Russian-born Jewish vendor's accent. The original artwork to the cartoon has a different letter on the back: New Yorker founding editor Harold Ross's initial R, indicating that Ross personally approved this cartoon for publication.

Otto Soglow, original art
The New Yorker, September 6, 1941, page 12

Scan courtesy of Jerome Wrinkle

Otto Soglow, original art, verso
Ross's R at upper left
The New Yorker, September 6, 1941, page 12

Scan courtesy of Jerome Wrinkle

Cartoons by Otto Soglow and Richard Taylor

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1941-09-06#folio=012

Otto Soglow
The New Yorker, September 6, 1941, page 12

Otto Soglow, original art
The New Yorker, September 6, 1941, page 12

Scan courtesy of Jerome Wrinkle

Almanac:  "V for Victory" Sign
"CBS Sunday Morning"
July 19, 2015

Note:  Thanks to Jerome Wrinkle for providing these fascinating scans.

Michael Maslin found a New Yorker wartime pamphlet initialed in red by Harold Ross with his R. It's on Ink Spill here.

Otto Soglow doesn't get a lot of attention these days, but we don't shy away from obscure subject matter here at Attempted Bloggery. So in the spirit of Winston Churchill urging the world to adopt the symbol "V for Victory," I repeat once again my request for readers to forward high-quality scans or photographs of original cartoon art by Otto Soglow. Please also send me examples of extremely rare or uncollected published work. Peace. I mean Victory.


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