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a yellow and black poster with a man holding a child
Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

1238 - Posters ‘Help The Biafran Mother and Child’.
See original version (German)

Estimate €300 - €400
Sale commission
Description
Posters ‘Help The Biafran Mother and Child’. Circa 1968. Silkscreen print in yellow and black on thin vellum. 50 x 38.5 cm. A campaign poster from the period of the Nigerian Civil War, during which the blockade of the breakaway Republic of Biafra triggered a famine that claimed the lives of around two million civilians. The image of the starving mother with her child became the central symbol of this catastrophe and shaped the first major humanitarian media campaign of the post-war era. The poster renders this image as an expressively elongated, mask-like figure set against a yellow, radiant sun, reminiscent of the rising sun on the Biafran flag. The expressive visual language, closely associated with Nigerian modernism, and the skilful screen-printing technique suggest that it was produced either within the Biafran context or as part of the international solidarity movement. - A rare historical document. - Paper brittle and browned due to age, with some water stains; a few barely noticeable tears at the edges; partially backed on the reverse. Edges are irregular and partly crumpled, with small areas missing; there are crease marks in places; the surface is partly rubbed; the reverse shows slight ink bleed-through and remnants of previous mounting. Overall in good condition. Excellent, rich print of the expressive motif without a border. Silkscreen in yellow and black on lightweight toned paper. - Paper age-toned, with water stains in places; a few barely noticeable nicks to the edges, partly reinforced on the reverse. Edges are irregular, partly creased and with small losses; some creasing; surface rubbed in places; slight ink show-through on the reverse as well as remnants of a former mount. Overall in good condition. An excellent, richly inked impression of the expressive image, printed to the edges. - Appeal poster from the Nigerian Civil War, during which the blockade of the secessionist Republic of Biafra caused a famine that claimed some two million civilian lives. The image of the starving mother and child became the defining emblem of this catastrophe and shaped the first major humanitarian media campaign of the post-war era. The poster renders it as an expressively elongated, mask-like figure set against a radiant yellow sun, reminiscent of the rising sun on the Biafran flag. Its expressive formal language, reminiscent of Nigerian modernism, and the hand-crafted screen-print technique suggest it originated in Biafra or within the international solidarity movement. - A rare document of its time.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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