A rugged and gritty WWII – era illustration by the prolific American artist E.F. Ward, which was created as part of the advertising campaign for Seiberling Rubber Company. Published as the central image for a magazine interior advertisement that appeared in numerous wartime periodicals, Safe Passage is a large format well-realized gouache on illustration board painting which shows a unit of camouflaged servicemen traversing a swampy South Pacific jungle with the help of Seiberling life preservers. In 1943, as American soldiers made headway in the war against the Axis in Japan and the surrounding region, at home American companies took pride in contributing to our nation’s war efforts abroad. Patriotism was, for many companies, good for business and Seiberling in particular was a leader in “war work” making tires, rubber floats, boats and pontoons, along with rubber parts for gas masks and footwear for the soldiers. Painting is in fine condition with old original 1940s matting and framing under glass, a tear sheet of the published illustration as it appeared in Collier’s is included in the sale.