This listing is for a WWII-era 1942 Esky-Card Szyk Caricature Postcards created by Arthur Szyk were published by Esquire Magazine. They featured anti-Nazi/anti-Axis themes. This is Set #6 and includes all 6 cards shown here.
Card #1: “December 7, 1941” - This card is titled with the date for Pearl Harbour and depicts an image of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito holding a branch to the face of a seated and personification of America (with similar facial appearance to FDR) in his left hand and about to stab him in the back with his right; Hitler and Mussolini watch together over America’s right shoulder.
Card #2: “The New Orderlies” - This card shows a group of military men, each representing a specific faction. The name of each is on their shoulder strap. Germany riding the taller horse with Japan riding alongside on a smaller horse. Mussolini is riding on a mule bringing up the rear. A very symbolic skeleton marches in their ranks and you can see the Grim Reaper flying on a vulture above, to the upper right, holding a Swastika in his "hand". Behind them appears to be a full flock of vultures extending into the distance.
Card #3: “Il Duce…” - The title of this third card translates as “The Leader” and depicts an all-too-familiar obese Hermann Göring, a commonly depicted Hideki Tojo being quite smug, and the Grim Reaper sandwiched between them. They are leading a chained and reluctant Benito Mussolini.
Card #4: “Some Necks…” - This card shows the full-size leaders FDR, Churchill, and Stalin quite in control of much tinier depictions of Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito.
Card #5: “The Map Maker” - This card depicts Hitler in what appears to be the office of Schiklgruber Company Fine Maps. He is showing maps of the world to many Axis leaders and their allies, identifying his goals with Mussolini appearing quite unpleased. The inclusion of some specific text on different documents and even the three cups with the red, white, and black paint add a nice touch.
Card #6: “Detour on the Glory Road” - Hitler is shown as being thickly bundled and trudging along in deep snow. The snow appears to be covering dead and rotting corpses as indicated by the parts extending out of the snow, all while the darkening sky is full of hungry vultures. Below the illustration reads, “This damn winter is just another intrigue of Roosevelt and the international bankers”.
The reverse side of the postcards are stamped similarly, with the appropriate text updated as it relates to which card it is. Esquire Magazine, a rather popular men's magazine of the period, published this caricature artwork by Arthur Szyk in Chicago, Illinois in 1942.