Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rather scarce Defense Bond Poster dating from the onset of the Korean War (1950). Posters from this era are relatively hard to find on the market, which is more or less swamped with posters of WWII vintage. Finding Posters dating from the Korean War era are a seldom find! This is an original Government Printing Office published poster dated 1950.

Despite increased revenue from taxes, during WWII the federal government relied upon borrowing from the public through the sale of government war bonds and small denomination war stamps to meet most of the war costs. Posters played an important part in convincing people to buy bonds and help with the war effort. In early 1942, U.S. Treasury officials worked to secure public ownership of the national debt by encouraging voluntary purchase of war savings bonds and stamps. The goal was to enlist ordinary citizens to make them shareholders in the war effort. By July 1945, the government had conducted seven successful war-bond drives, which had raised a total of almost sixty-one billion dollars.

Characteristic of these war drives were the great numbers of volunteers from civic organizations who teamed together in door-to-door selling campaigns. It is estimated that over 6 million men, women and children volunteered to sell bonds during 1944. It was during the 1944 campaigns that the introduction of the popular Series E $25 bond was introduced.

Although World War II was over the U.S. Government still had plenty of debt from the earlier conflict. In order to keep the budget balanced, the U.S. Treasury printed posters like this one to promote citizen funding of the Korean War.

This 18 ½” x 26” poster with artwork by Garry Orr was printed in 1950 and features a lovely American flag flying in front of a beautiful sunset. The text at the bottom features the following message:

NOW LET’S ALL BUY BONDS

By 1950 the American people already knew the drill when it came to these posters and messages.

The poster displays minor wear and still has visible fold lines from when the poster was shipped out when being issued. There are some notes written on the reverse of the poster in pencil, which does not detract from the outward appearance of the poster itself upon display.

Comes ready to display!