Jet-powered wasp: public domain clip-art

The fine Phil Are Go site has done the Internet the favor of close-cropping the jet-powered wasp from a 1952 Saturday Evening Post public domain Shell ad. It's a heck of a nice bit of clip-art!

Pratt & Whitney - A bit waspy.

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davejenk1ns

Hrmmm… time to rethink the design of my Vespa club logo?
scbr

For being from 1952, the resemblance of the body with the Dyson canister vacuum cleaner is uncanny….
chriscombs

Yes, my understanding from the copyright mavens here at work is that the rule of thumb is 1922 or older are likely public domain.

Images from 1923 or newer could be under copyright.
chawke

Yo Way Yo Yo Way Yo Hom Var Ray Yo Way Rah Jerum Br…
tylerkaraszewski

Looks like a jet-powered dragonfly to me.
Anonymous

IT came out in 1952 and copyrights only last 50 years is why.
Vanwall

What!?! No Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp?
Anonymous

Then how is the original Mickey Mouse still under copyright but this isn’t?
- Anonymous
  
  They passed a new law wrt that, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Term_Extension_Act
yamaplos

+1 SedanChair
me slow also
Anonymous

Can someone explain how the ad is public domain and this image is not rights-encumbered? I’m genuinely curious.
SedanChair

Sorry for being thick…where is the indication that this ad is public domain?
wrecksdart

Am I the only one who’s recently read “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”? Deckard! DECKARD! Get out here! Your wasp is back!