Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
It Multiplies - War Savings Certificates, 1939 Canada poster: Cartoon rabbits breed from two to five, set out as '2 x 2 = 5'

It Multiplies - War Savings Certificates

Cartoon rabbits breed from two to five, set out as '2 x 2 = 5' with the note 'two dollars + two dollars makes five dollars when you invest in War Savings Certificates'. The tell is the one-sided framing of return as breeding, shown without the holding period or terms, which the poster does not state.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Card stacking
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Artist 'Ricky' of the RCAF (signature only; no issuer imprint on the sheet); War Savings Certificates subject
Region
North America
Country
Canada
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Mackenzie King Government
Leader
William Lyon Mackenzie King
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Fundraise
Themes
Economy and finance, Home front
Event
World War II
Source
Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Held by NARA, Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision (Canadian wartime poster, no rights statement)
Artist Ricky, RCAF, National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-629.

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

IT MULTIPLIES-
2
x 2
= 5
(TWO DOLLARS + TWO DOLLARS MAKES FIVE DOLLARS)
WHEN YOU INVEST IN-
WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES
[signature:] Ricky RCAF

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