Why Pick Your Own Pocket?

A cartoon workman in overalls, holding a wrench, tucks Dominion of Canada bonds into his shirt while scratching his head, under 'Why pick your own pocket?' and 'Keep your Victory Bonds and Certificates ... some day they'll help keep you'. The tell is the everyday worker figure as the model for holding bonds rather than cashing them (plain folks).

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Plain folks

Date

1939

Period

Second World War

Made by

Issuer not printed (Dominion of Canada Victory Bonds and certificates appeal)

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

Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are

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; Canadian wartime publication (Crown copyright, if any, expired); hosted by owner decision
Issuer not printed (Dominion of Canada Victory Bonds and certificates appeal). National Archives and Records Administration, 44-PF-732.

WHY PICK YOUR OWN POCKET?
"KEEP YOUR VICTORY BONDS AND CERTIFICATES
... SOME DAY THEY'LL HELP KEEP YOU"
[on bonds:] DOMINION OF CANADA