Christmas overseas gifts
Christmas mailing poster in red: a cartoon Santa Claus wearing a steel helmet holds up a wrapped parcel addressed to a Pvt. John T. Jones, with three one-line rules (wrap securely, address correctly, choose gifts wisely) and the mailing window of 15 September to 15 October. Santa's goodwill is attached to the armed forces' mail rules (transfer).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1945
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army and Navy Postal Services (artist Graves)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Truman Administration
- Leader
- Harry S. Truman
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, War and the military
- 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 Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army and Navy Postal Services (artist Graves). National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-576 (NAID 514056).
Text on the object
Christmas Overseas Gifts [on parcel:] MRS. M.T. JONES 420 ELM ST. TROY, N.Y., U.S.A. PVT. JOHN T. JONES, 1604321 CO. B, 349th Infantry A.P.O. 670, % Postmaster New York, N.Y. ★ WRAP SECURELY ★ ADDRESS CORRECTLY ★ CHOOSE GIFTS WISELY Mail between Sept. 15-Oct. 15 Christmas cards may be sent any time U. S. ARMY AND NAVY POSTAL SERVICES [signature:] GRAVES [imprint:] P-170—RPB—7-9-45—300M
