"READY" — 1942 U.S. Marines Recruitment Poster by Haddon Sundblom

That single red word hits like a drill instructor’s bark. Haddon Sundblom — the illustrator best known for turning Coca-Cola’s Santa into an American icon — painted this in 1942 when the Corps needed men who could fight on land, sea, and air. The minimalist design says it all: no battlefield drama, just a Marine standing ready in dress blues, shoulders squared, eyes locked forward. It worked. Thousands answered the call.⁠

You’re looking at him now: a U.S. Marine in full blue dress uniform with white cap cover, gold chevrons, aiguillette, and medals, hands clasped behind his back at parade rest. The bold “READY” arches above him in commanding red. Below the belt: “JOIN U.S. MARINES” in strong lettering, with “LAND SEA AIR” stacked to the right. Every detail of the uniform pops against the clean background, from the brass buttons to the razor-sharp creases.

This high-quality print pulls straight from the Library of Congress scan, preserving the original lithograph’s crisp lines and saturated colors. Available in sizes from desk-friendly to wall-dominating — pick the one that makes guests stop and ask what it means. You’ll have the story ready. Semper Fi.

Product features

- Giclée printing for vivid, durable color

- Three paper finishes: Fine Art (textured/archival), Matte (low-sheen), Semi-Gloss (satin/bright)

- Paper weights ranging from ~180–285 g/m² depending on paper and source

- Available in multiple sizes and both horizontal and vertical layouts

- Shipped rolled; blank product sourced from USA and Japan

Care instructions

- If the print does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, dry cloth.