'KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON', a rare original WW2 poster red background with white lettering and crown, printed by HMSO, September 1939 74.8 x 50.5cm This poster has now become one of the most famous propaganda icons of World War II, and the irony is that the poster was never displayed in public. In September 1939, 'Keep Calm' and two other letterpress posters had been put into production, 'Freedom is in Peril...' and 'Your Courage...' were displayed in public places, but the third - now recognised the world over with the unforgettable slogan - was not. It is now widely accepted that it was held back in anticipation of an invasion of Britain by the enemy or a severe air raid. The 'Phoney War', being the period September 1939 to May 1940, proved to be largely uneventful for the home front, and a change in attitude to the wording probably contributed to the poster never being used. Although many thousands in several sizes were originally printed, only a few examples have ever appeared for sale. This example is in the larger double crown format. Condition report: The poster is beautifully linen mounted so there is a white linen (paper covered) border not seen in the catalogue photograph - see additional photos. The poster seems to have originally had a 16cm tear upwards from the middle bottom edge and then a horizontal tear (12cm) half way up from the vertical tear. There is also a small tear (3cm) half way up on the edge. This has all been restored, see detailed photographs. Although the posters has restored tears it looks very clean and very bright with sharp edges to the corners, so I'm fairly sure it was never displayed. The restoration will hardly notice once it is up in a frame. Stunning and very rare poster.