Save and Invest in the Safest, Simplest Security: Buy W.S.S. War Savings Stamps Issued by the United States Government
A text-only sheet in a ruled frame urges the public to buy War Savings Stamps, with a 'Torch of Liberty' emblem and a price table: $4.12 on Jan. 1, 1918 'will equal' $5.00 on Jan. 1, 1923. The superlatives 'safest' and 'simplest' carry the appeal while the arithmetic is stated openly. The tell of glittering generalities is the unqualified pair of superlatives, set beside a verifiable figure.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Treasury Department (War Savings Stamps)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- Economy and finance, Home front
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
U.S. Treasury Department (War Savings Stamps). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-240.
Text on the object
Save and Invest in the SAFEST SIMPLEST SECURITY buy [emblem ring:] THE TORCH OF LIBERTY W.S.S. WAR SAVINGS STAMPS ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT Jan 1, 1918 $4.12 will equal Jan 1, 1923 $5.00 [foot:] 86 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE UNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT
The first foot mark is partly cut off ('86' read tentatively).
