Scarce circa 1920s color 26.5 x 19.5 poster published as part of a weekly series by Artwin Service Corp. of New York, entitled "'Death Ray' Discovered!," showing British inventor Harry Grindell Matthews blasting a plane out of the sky with his 'Death Ray' as the leaders of the world observe. The Frenchman remarks, "Mon dieu! Ze spirit of Jules Verne reincarnated!," while the German says, "Ach Himmel! Dot beats my poison gas, U boats and Big Berthas all to nuddings, yah?" In very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds, some light border creasing, and some small edge chips.
Throughout the 1920s and 30s, several inventors—Nikola Tesla, Harry Grindell Matthews, Guglielmo Marconi, and others—claimed to have developed the 'death ray,' a theoretical electromagnetic or particle beam weapon. This cartoon captures the worldwide interest—with tones of fear and excitement—that the advent of such a terrible and mysterious force brought about. An interesting observational cartoon on the techno-politics of the post-World War I era.
