Original Item: Only One Available. During WWII, the government commissioned propaganda posters to teach American citizens and soldiers that careless speech could endanger national security. Any American with knowledge of troop movements, military equipment, or any other information that might prove useful to the enemy was encouraged to keep quiet. To remind all Americans of their duty, the Office of War Information (OWI) commissioned artists to create propaganda posters. The posters were hung in public places and widely reprinted. They used imagery that tugged at heartstrings, invoked fear, and appealed to a sense of patriotism.

This lovely 20” x 14 ½” poster features the face of an American sailor in his blue deck uniform with a white “dixie cup” cover on peering out a porthole on the bulkhead of a ship with a concerned look on his face. The text above and below the porthole is as follows:

if you talk to much
THIS MAN MAY DIE

The footer text is:

SARRA

For additional copies write to Bureau of Public Inquiries,Office of War Information, Washington, D.C. Specify Title and OWI No. 6
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1942-O-482161

The poster exhibits minor wear and still has the original fold marks present from the distribution services during WWII.

Comes ready to display!

Concerns about national security intensify in wartime. During World War II, the Government alerted citizens to the presence of enemy spies and saboteurs lurking just below the surface of American society. "Careless talk" posters warned people that small snippets of information regarding troop movements or other logistical details would be useful to the enemy. Well-meaning citizens could easily compromise national security and soldiers' safety with careless talk.

“Words are ammunition. Each word an American utters either helps or hurts the war effort. He must stop rumors. He must challenge the cynic and the appeaser. He must not speak recklessly. He must remember that the enemy is listening.”