The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware  19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

                                               

Title:               War bond posters

Dates:             1941-1945

Call No.:         Col. 186

Acc. No.:        79x341

Quantity:        28 items

Location:        3 K 3

 

 

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

Consists of 28 posters published by the U. S. Government Printing Office (USGPO) to promote the sales of bonds and stamps during World War II.  Most of the posters tie into a government campaign to encourage workers to use 10% of their paychecks to purchase war bonds.  Such symbols as a bald eagle, Uncle Sam, a Minute Man, soldiers, pilots, and Santa Claus are used in the posters.  One poster features Hitler and two other Germans.  Some of the posters include the artist’s name.  Some posters are repeated in different sizes.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

 

Gift of Benjamin G. Hotchkiss,

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Advertising - United States.

            Advertising campaigns.

Children - Pictorial works.

            Posters, American.

Santa Claus - Pictorial works.

            World War, 1939-1945 - Posters.

            World War, 1939-1945 - Propaganda.

            Posters.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 3 K 3

 

 

Folder 1:

 

.1         “Buy a share in America.  Defense Savings Bonds and Stamps.”  USGPO 1941-J-427327, poster no. 4B; illustration by H. Billings

                        Outline map of the 48 United States, with slot in middle so the country is a bank; man’s hand is butting an 1941 Liberty dollar coin into the bank

 

.2         “Help him: every $3.00 you put into War Bonds buys 144 rifle bullets.  Help yourself: every $3.00 you put into War Bonds brings you back $4.00.  For Victory: at least 10% of you pay every payday”; USGPO 1942-J-473829, form WSS 541-B;

                        black and white photographs of soldier [for “help him”] and of a mechanic [for “help yourself”]

 

.3         “’It is goot to hear American are now pudding 10% of der pay into Bunds!’  ‘Herman, you tell him it iss Bonds not Bunds!’  For Victory … put at least 10% of every pay into war bonds!”; USGPO 1942-J-473829, form WSS 541-C;

                        Three Germans: Hitler (who says “it is goot”), Herman Goering (covered with medals), and a third man (short, with five o’clock shadow, who is speaking to Goering)

 

.4         “’You buy ‘em, we’ll fly ‘em!’ Defense Bonds Stamps; The more bond you buy – the more planes will fly”; USGPO 1942-O-436100; illustrated by [symbol]Wilkinsons [J. Walter and Walter G. Wilkinson, father and son];

                        Pilot in cockpit, with planes flying above him, and plane outside hangar behind him

 

.5         “Wanted – Fighting Dollars, Make every pay-day Bond-day.  United States Defense Bonds, Stamps”; USGPO 1942-O-437059, form DSS-189A; illustrated by [symbol] Wilkinsons [J. Walter and Walter G. Wilkinson, father and son];

                        Smiling worker, in overalls and cap, holding a $25 bond; also the Minute Man statue

 

 

 

 

Folder 2:

 

.6         “We can … we will .. we must! .. Franklin D. Roosevelt,” USGPO 1942-O-453557, form DSS-355;

                        American flag flying against dark blue sky

 

.7         “’Even a little can help a lot – Now,’ Buy U.S. War Stamps, Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-455803, form DSS-405, illustration by A. Parker, courtesy of Ladies’ Home Journal;

                        Mother and daughter, in matching red, white, and blue outfits, paste stamps into booklets; man’s service cap on floor next to them

 

.8         “Don’t Let That Shadow Touch Them, Buy War Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-462211, WSS 451, illustration by Lawrence Beall Smith [lived 1909-1989];

                        Three children, a girl and two boys, playing outdoors in shadow of a swastika; one boy holds a model airplane, the other wears a paper soldier’s hat and carries and American flag, the girl holds a doll

 

.9         “Buy War Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-469197, WSS 510-C

                        Uncle Sam with American flag, up in the clouds, pointing soldiers into battle, with airplanes flying above him

 

.10       “Our Good Earth … Keep it Ours, Buy War Bonds, ‘Make Every Market Day Bond Day,’” USGPO 1942-O-470156, WSS 509, illustration by John Steuart Curry, 1942

                        farmer, wearing overalls and straw hat, in wheat field with two small children (girl and boy) standing next to him

 

.11       “’This Is My Fight Too!’  Put at least 10% every payday in War Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-47819, WSS 568

                        black-and-white photograph of woman war worker (sweaty and dirty), with pay envelope and war bonds; she has an unreadable identity tag and a button which reads 10%

 

.12       “She’s Ready, Too, Buy War Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-488198

                        blond woman, wearing a gold suit and carrying a shoulder bag, striding forward, with shadow of Minute Man statue behind her

 

.13       “The Present with a Future, War Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-491740, WSS 642

                        Santa Claus in sleigh pulled by two reindeer, flying over a church and farm, with war bonds drifting down from the sleigh;

                        For larger size, see .14 in folder 3

 

 

Folder 3:

 

.14       “The Present with a Future, War Bonds,” USGPO 1942-O-491740, WSS 642-C

                        Santa Claus in sleigh pulled by two reindeer, flying over a church and farm, with war bonds drifting down from the sleigh;

                        For smaller size, see .13 in folder 2

 

.15-.16             “For Freedom’s Sake, Buy War Bonds,” USGPO 1943-O-514158, WSS 789; illustration by JA

                        Minute Man Statue, with a New England village in background, including white clapboard church and red house;

                        Poster in two sizes; .15 is small, .16 is large

 

.17       “Give War Bonds, The Present with a Future,” “Official U.S. Treasury Poster,” USGPO 1943-O-553896, WFD 856-A; illustration by Don Snider;

                        Stylized Christmas tree, decorated with war bonds and cons holding war stamps, and variously shaped gifts around the tree

 

.18       “Care is costly, Buy and hold war bonds”; “Official U.S. Treasury Poster,” USGPO 1945-O-651671, WFD 24-A; illustration by Adolph Treidler;

                        Wounded soldier, with bandaged hand and leg, and helmet next to him

 

.19 – see Folder 4

 

.20       reproduction of a $200 United States savings bond, with portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, USGPO 1945-O-663224

 

 

Folder 4:

 

.19       “’In the strength of great hope we must shoulder our common load.’  Buy Victory Bonds”; “Official U.S. Treasury Poster,” USGPO 1945-O-662911, WFD 32; illustrated by C. C. Beall;

                        Portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt at top, with cross below him, and a family (father, mother, three children) looking up to him for inspiration

 

Folder 5:

 

.21-.23             “Victory – now you can invest in it!  Victory Loan,” USGPO 1945-O-666315, WFD 53, 53A, 53B; illustration by Dean Cornwell;

                        Bald eagle on top of a stock of war bonds, with red, white, and blue stripes behind it, and stars scattered over the stripes; in foreground is a $200 war bond with picture of Franklin Delano Roosevelt;

                        Same poster in small, medium, and large sizes

 

.24       “For Peace and Security, Buy Bonds”; “Official U.S. Treasury Poster,” USGPO 1495[sic]-O-668763, WFD 67;

                        The Three Magi or Wise Men of the New Testament, following the star to Bethlehem

 

.25       “Jap … you’re next!  Buy Extra Bonds.”  With emblem for The Mighty 7th War Loan; P-X-63 – RPB – 5-7-45 – 150 M; illustrated by James Montgomery Flagg;

                        Uncle Sam holds a wrench and rolls up his sleeve

 

.26       “Speed the day!  7th War Loan.”

                        Mother hugging her soldier son

 

.27       “We can’t all go … but we can all help!  Put at least 10% of your pay in War Bonds.  Sign the card today.” 

                        black and white photograph of soldier cuddling crying toddler

 

.28       “I gave a man!  Will you give at least 10% of your pay in War Bonds?”; photo signed Sarra;

                        black and white photograph of woman with baby and little girl