A visually striking group of four (4) original painted poster designs by Anton Marek from the Allied occupation of Vienna, Austria, after the end of World War II. 

Anton Marek, artist

Four (4) poster designs

Acrylic on paper

[Vienna, Austria?]

circa 1945-1946

Each signed "Anton Marek"

Each approx. 17 15/16 x 24 1/8 in. 

Titles include: 

1.  Call A29500 / The INTERNATIONAL PATROL FOR YOUR PROTECTION

2. Hinter diesem Fenster ARBEITEN AMERIKANISCHE MILITÄRPOLIZISTEN TAG UND NACH / FÜR IHRE SICHERHEIT. [Behind your window, American military police officers are working day and night for your safety]

3. THE INTERNATIONAL PATROL FOR YOUR PROTECTION

4. the international patrol...FOR YOUR PROTECTION.

Not much is known about the artist; however, we traced a 1940 Austrian publication Achtung Lachgas! [Attention Laughing Gas] featuring Marek's cartoons alongside humorous stories intended for German soldiers. After the war, he lent his artistic talents to the Allied forces during the occupation of Vienna. Although Austria did have its own government from 1945, the country and Vienna were subdivided and jointly occupied by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and France. 

The rare original posters are intended for the local Viennese population, with one in particular entirely in German, encouraging trust in the American Military Police. The others, printed in several languages, promote support of the International Patrol, which consisted of one military policeman from each occupying power and often referred to as "Four in the Jeep." 

The bold and optimistic designs reflect the international cooperation of the immediate post-war era. Another lot in the sale includes the printed versions of these along with 2 additional designs by Marel (see lot ##). 

[World War II, WWII,  FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adolf Hitler, Allied, Axis, George S. Patton, Air Force] [Cold War, Soviet Union, Stalin] [Propaganda, Posters]