WWII Patriotic Poster, Historic U.S.A. American Patriotism Symbols/WWII Patriotic Posters United States America Bonds Stamps-1
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The artist who created this and at least one other outstanding WWII poster was unique among artist/illustrators of this time. Most WWII artist/designers were men but beyond this Martha was a pacific island adventurer. She left the small Texas town she was born and raised in studied art in New York then boarded a tramp freighter for adventure.
More information about artist Martha Sawyers
(Mrs. William Reusswig 1902 - 1988)
Marketing and selling U.S. Government Bonds to finance the United States of Americas involvement in WWII:
In 1940 Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union had already overrun and divided up Poland, Japan was making progress towards conquering China, Nazi Germany had alarmed the world with successful military actions against Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and France the United States began marketing "defense bonds" to discreetly help provide military finance for war preparations. The U.S. treasury made these defense bonds affordable to anyone, they were sold for as little as $18.75 and matured in ten years, at which time the United States government paid the bondholder $25. Bonds in larger denominations from $50 to $1000 were also available; for those that found it difficult to purchase an entire bond at once, 10 cent savings stamps could be purchased and collected in Treasury approved stamp albums until the recipient had accumulated enough stamps for a bond purchase. The name defense bonds was eventually changed to War Bonds after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December, 1941, which resulted in the United States entering the war. The bond posters in this collection employed magnificent contemporary art with powerful text exhortations to buy war bonds accompanied with appeals to patriotism and conscience to successfully help sell the bonds. Also bond sales rallies were held throughout the country with famous celebrities, usually Hollywood film stars, to enhance the bond advertising effectiveness. The posters in this collection like the one shown on this page "You can't afford to miss either. Buy war bonds EVERY payday." were powerful and successful marketing tools to aid in the sale of war bonds and over the course of the world war two 85 million Americans purchased bonds totaling approximately $185.7 billion.
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