All Things Vintage: War Bonds #AprilA2Z
Welcome, kittens and dawgs to another chapter in All Thing Vintage!
Today’s alphabet letter prompt “W” is for War Bonds. What are War Bonds? War Bonds were popular during the WWI and WWII. The way I understand War Bonds is basically the government is borrowing the money from the citizens to finance the war. Let’s say, Willie Wigglepants buys a $25 war bond for $18. In 10 years the bond reaches its maturity at which time its face value earns Mr. Wigglepants a small return on the money Uncle Sam borrowed. This means to raise funds to support wars made many uncomfortable to invest in a new uncertain market and others saw it as a means of coercion to be patriotic.
I thought it would be fun nonetheless to look at the old patriotic propaganda used to sell War Bonds.
People who love their country, like I do, are patriotic and proud. They want to serve the best they can by joining a branch of the military or national guard or other volunteer posts, but misuse of government influence over its people is rarely tolerated and often results in a backlash as saw during WWII with disappointing sells of the war bond.
Applauds and special thanks to the incredible A2Z Team for hosting all the April fun!
Arlee Bird @ Tossing it Out
Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh
Heather M. Gardner
Jeremy @ Hollywood Nuts
AJ Lauer
Pam @ An Unconventional Librarian
Damyanti Biswas @ Daily Write
Zalka Csenge Virág @ The Multicolored Diary
Joy Campbell @ The Character Depot
John Holton @The Sound of One Hand Typing
Please join my mid-week linky party by adding your photo post URL below. Next week, life at Curious as a Cathy should go back to normal. 😉
Now, I invite you to hop with me in checking out some of the amazing A2Zers playing along this year and I hope you’ll come back tomorrow for another installment of All Things Vintage!
9 Comments
Arlee Bird
I remember when they were still selling these in the 50’s when I was a kid. I think my parents bought me some savings stamps but I don’t know whatever came of these.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Rorybore
What, no Captain America ones? ha.
It’s quite interesting to look back at these and see how they were kinda artsy, but of course that was not their purpose. Things are so much different now I imagine.
celticmama36
I think that it is interesting how graphic/provocative the first poster was, given the time frame.
This was a very interesting post. At least one of the posters was done the year my maternal grandma was born (1917).
I don’t know that anyone in my family ever had or bought war bonds, but there were certainly many that were in military service. Our two sons are in service now. Our oldest is in the US Navy and the youngest is a US Marine – OohRah!
Thanks for always having such interesting posts! Have a blessed night. 🙂
Birgit
Amazing how many different styles of war bonds there were…that first one is just a bit funny.
Jeffrey Scott
You found some really interesting posters here. I appreciate you giving a little explanation. I always wondered what the bonds were for.
Mary B
I grew up poor, but never really realized it at the time. We did have bonds that my mother would check dates on to see if we could cash them in, etc. These days, I enjoy the posters (and sometimes wish I still had a bond or two to cash in)
Mary
#AtoZChallenge W is for Wilson Phillips
Liz A.
Movies of a certain era have the war bonds thing happening in them. Interesting to watch.
On another note, I just hit your blog on the way through the A to Z linky list. I always find it funny when I hit a blog I’m already following. (It’s happened several times this month.)
Janie Junebug
Many movie stars made appearances at public events to sell war bonds during WWII. Carole Lombard, Clark Gable’s wife, was killed in a plane crash while returning from such an event.
Love,
Janie, who would like to change her name to Willie Wigglepants
Patrick Weseman
Those are so super cool. Love them. Just the art work alone is great.