---
title: You Don't Have to be a Math'matical Wizard to Figure out Your Position on This (War Savings Certificates)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-war-savings-certificates-mathmatical-wizard-1939/
description: A cartoon airman in flying gear scratches his head over a sum, then a second panel shows him holding up a War Savings Certificate while a penniless
section: Collection
---

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3. You Don't Have to be a Math'matical Wizard to Figure out Your Position

[![You Don't Have to be a Math'matical Wizard to Figure out Your Position on This, 1939 Canada poster: A cartoon airman](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-war-savings-certificates-mathmatical-wizard-1939.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/canada-war-savings-certificates-mathmatical-wizard-1939.jpg)

# You Don't Have to be a Math'matical Wizard to Figure out Your Position on This (War Savings Certificates)

A cartoon airman in flying gear scratches his head over a sum, then a second panel shows him holding up a War Savings Certificate while a penniless civilian shrugs with empty pockets: '$4 saved now makes $5 after the war'. The tell is the everyday service-man cartoon voice, with the stated return as the only figure given.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

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

```
You don't have to be a math'matical wizard
To figure out your position on this ...
($4 SAVED NOW MAKES $5 AFTER THE WAR--)
GET "A FIX" ON WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES
THEY MAY GET YOU OUT OF A FIX AFTER THE WAR-
COME IN ON A POST-WAR SAVINGS BACK-LOG - BUY ----
WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES
[signature:] Ricky RCAF
```

[← After the War - You May be Down but You Needn't be Out (War Savings Certificates)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-war-savings-certificates-down-but-not-out-1939/) [What Will You Do When This "Do" is Over? (War Savings Certificates) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/canada-war-savings-certificates-sell-pencils-1939/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)