Original 1913 IWW Little Falls Strike Broadside Poster Liberty or Pen Rare Labor For Sale

Original 1913 IWW Little Falls Strike Broadside Poster – "Liberty or Pen"
🔴 ITEM OVERVIEWUp for sale is an incredibly rare, museum-quality piece of American labor history: an authentic, original 1913 multi-lingual defense broadside poster titled "LIBERTY OR PEN." This historic artifact was issued by the Little Falls Defense Committee in conjunction with the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) to raise urgent legal defense funds for union organizers and striking immigrant textile workers arrested during the historic 1912–1913 Little Falls Textile Strike in upstate New York.
Fewer than a handful of these posters are known to exist in private hands, with surviving copies primarily locked away in institutional university archives and academic repositories.📜 HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDThe Little Falls Textile Strike (October 1912 – January 1913) remains one of the most pivotal, women-led immigrant labor actions in early 20th-century America. Following the passage of the Jackson Bill—which capped the grueling workweek for women and children at 54 hours—the Phoenix and Gilbert mill owners slashed workers' take-home pay proportionally.
In response, a spontaneous wildcat strike erupted, primarily led by immigrant women from Eastern and Southern Europe. Supported heavily by the Socialist Party and the radical IWW (the "Wobblies"), the workers successfully ground production to a halt. Local authorities launched a violent police crackdown, arresting strike leaders on trumped-up charges. This poster was printed during the height of that legal battle to secure a fair trial for the defendants. Against all odds, the unified workers won all of their demands in mid-January 1913.🔍 RARITY & COLLECTOR HIGHLIGHTS• Official Union Lithographs: Features two highly detailed, authentic printers' marks that verify its pedigree: the Trades Union Label Council stamp and the iconic Industrial Workers of the World Universal Label globe emblem.
• Multilingual Appeal: Reflecting the diverse immigrant workforce of the Mohawk Valley, the text is prominently translated into English, Polish ("Zadajcie Uczciwej Rozprawy!"), and Italian ("DOMANDATE UNGIUSTO e CORRETTO PROCESSO!").
• Pictured Historical Figures: Features crisp, original portrait photographs of high-profile strike leaders and defendants, including:
• Benjamin J. Legere (Famed IWW organizer)
• Helen Schloss (Socialist nurse and strike activist)
• Fred Hirsh & Filippo Bochino
• Mrs. Walerya Zugajka and Baby (Representing the immigrant families on the front lines)📈 CONDITION REPORT• Condition: Antique / Used
• Details: This 113-year-old paper broadside is in excellent antique condition. It features light edge wear and original fold lines consistent with genuine historical storage over the last century. The red and black inks remain beautifully vibrant, the paper is stable (not brittle), and all text blocks and portraits are completely clear and fully legible. No text or image loss.