Illustrations for a Young Peace

This chapter covers more of Arthur Szyk's projects during the post-war years, for both political and commercial purposes. It describes his series of single-page illuminations representing the various countries then forming the new United Nations Organization as well as a series of stamps commissioned by the Republic of Liberia, which were the first multicoloured stamps issued by the country. Many smaller projects also date from this period. There were several designs for book plates for individuals and organizations, including a number of full-colour designs for Christmas cards. Some of his commercial illustrations during the immediate post-war years include several advertisements for Nescafé, a new instant coffee, which were published in popular magazines such as Collier's. In addition to this series, he created single drawings and paintings specifically for reproduction as frontispieces on other Jewish calendars, as well as miniature paintings depicting the scholar Hillel and biblical scenes, such as Cain and Abel, and Samuel anointing Saul.