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Rare World War II-dated original ‘Dispatch from Disney’s’ booklet printed by Walt Disney Productions in 1943 and distributed to Disney employees who were serving in the war effort, which includes its rare original ‘Pin-Ups for Service Men’ mini poster. The softcover booklet, Vol. 1, No.1, 32 pages, 5.5 x 8, features a color image of Donald Duck hitting Adolf Hitler in the eye with a tomato, and the back cover bears seven color military insignias with Disney characters like Pluto, Donald Duck, and Jiminy Cricket. The opening page, which notes that the booklet was “Published for employees in the services by employees at Walt Disney Productions, Burbank, California,” contains an introduction from Walt Disney (with facsimile signature), which reads, in part: “Here is news of our effort to back you up, along with glimpses of familiar faces and happenings. We hope this will make you feel like grabbing pencil, brush or camera and sending us news of yourself. Your contributions are welcome—the magazine will be the medium through which every employee can learn what you are doing and thinking.”
Other sections of the booklet include: an article by Major Alexander P. de Seversky (author of Victory Through Air Power) on the power of animation to educate; a fold-out cartoon by Roy Williams entitled ‘A Day with Walt’; an article by Oliver Wallace entitled “How I Wrote der Fuhrer's Face”; info on Disney artists T. Hee, Freddie Moore, Frank Thomas, and Woolie Reitherman; a feature on the Disney Studio exercise coach Carl Johnson; news on the South American tour; and detailed information on the Disney wartime training films.
The color ‘Pin-Ups for Service Men’ mini poster, 10.5 x 15.5, features images of five tastefully drawn nude sketches by Disney artists Fred Moore, Bill Justice, and Milt Neil, and the reverse contains a full roster of the Disney employees serving in the war effort, among them are famous names like Xavier Atencio, Lee Blair, Del Connell, Van Kaufman, Martin Provenson, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Frank Thomas. A caption to the upper left reads: “This magazine is a letter to you fellows in the services, to let you know what’s going on at the studio. Now let us know what you’re doing. Keep us in touch with your correct address—and send us any address we don’t have.” In overall fine condition, with some toning to the booklet's covers.
