Getting your 1940s War Bonds via Comics.

For Victory. Even children could help out. A tiny part of World War 2 History.

Yesterday we found a Wonder Woman comic book in the attic, a re-print of the very first issue published in 1942. On the back we, at Mimi Berlin, noticed something we had never seen or had heard of before: United States savings bonds and stamps……

Based on the aggressive and successful Liberty Bonds campaign of World War I, the WWII war bonds program inspired 85 million Americans to purchase bonds and raise $185 billion for the war effort. Similar to modern-day government savings bonds, they gave a percentage of return over the initial investment 10 years after purchase. This war defense bond was purchased for $37.50 in 1942 and could eventually be cashed in for $50.

“Comic books published throughout the war heavily encouraged the purchase of bonds and stamps through endorsement by their characters”

Of course, comics were a considerable part of the war bond campaign. Cartoonist Al Capp’s “Li’l Abner” comic-strip characters promoted both the patriotism and practicality of purchasing bonds — not to mention appealing to a soldier’s libido with Capp’s curvaceous hillbilly sweetheart Daisy Mae as a pin-up girl. via 13thdimension.com

captainamerica_warbonds image via 13thdimension.com

Wonder Woman promoting bonds and stamps 1942 mimi berlin’s attic treasues (image mimi berlin)

Wonder Woman promoting bonds and stamps 1942 mimi berlin’s attic treasues (image mimi berlin)

“Of course, comics were a considerable part of the war bond campaign. Cartoonist Al Capp’s “Li’l Abner” comic-strip characters promoted both the patriotism and practicality of purchasing bonds — not to mention appealing to a soldier’s libido with Capp’s curvaceous hillbilly sweetheart Daisy Mae as a pin-up girl.”

“Comic books published throughout the war heavily encouraged the purchase of bonds and stamps through endorsement by their characters” (via/read more at 13thdimension.com)