James Montgomery Flagg was an American illustrator born in 1877 and best known for his creation and of the World War I poster of Uncle Sam “I Want You”.

What is interesting about Flagg is that his career started at the age of 12 selling his illustrations to many New York magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post. He studied art in both New York and London.

This particular piece is from my father collection which is now in my hands is extensive (over 300 items) of Flagg’s early years, with many of the drawing is quite what you would expect of a young child. Flagg for some reason must of sense he was going to be famous because many items of the collection are both signed and dated by Flagg.  This makes it easy to see his development as an artist/illustrator.  The collection can be divided into several mediums used by Flagg from crayon, pencil to ink to water color to those that use multiple mediums. Included with the collection are several correspondences from throughout Flagg’s life as well as a personnel letter to his future wife written while he was studying art in London and postcards as he traveled through the US.  

Flagg took to drawing New York’s society and political figures in the news.