WWII poster stamp with a Jeep promoting buying US war bonds

The poster stamp was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Forrest J. Robinson, Jr. 

WWII poster stamp with a Jeep promoting buying US war bonds 

overall: Height: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Width: 2.625 inches (6.668 cm) 

Poster stamp featuring an image of a Wyllis MB Jeep, and encouraging the United States public to buy War Bonds and support American involvement in World War II (1939-1945). Poster stamps were collectable stamps, slightly larger than postage stamps, with designs similar to posters. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as a means for fundraising, propaganda, and educational purposes. In June 1940, the U.S. Army requested bids for a 1/4 ton"light reconnaissance vehicle.” The resulting vehicle, later known as the “jeep”, received approval in July 1941. The final product was a combination of designs from several automotive manufacturers: Bantam, Willys, and Ford. Jeeps proved to be versatile vehicles, and became symbols of American industrial power and ingenuity. They were shipped to Britain and the Soviet Union through the Lend-Lease program, and used by American soldiers in both the Pacific and Europe. War bonds were offered by the United States Government for purchase by the public; purchasers would keep the bond and be reimbursed for its return at a later date. On May 1, 1941, the first Series E U.S. Savings Bond was sold to President Franklin D. Roosevelt by Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. There were eight war loan drives conducted from 1942 to 1945. Bonds were advertised in newspapers, magazines, radio broadcasts, and also with posters and poster stamps. Quotas were set up on the national, state, county, and town levels to encourage their sale, and volunteers went door-to-door to sell war bonds. Purchasing bonds was considered patriotic and an investment in victory. The War Finance Committees, in charge of the loan drives, sold a total of $185.7 billion in bonds during the war. 

No restrictions on access 

No restrictions on use 

Long, rectangular poster stamp with a red background and an adhesive backing. The stamp features a blue and white military Jeep on the left driving on an incline. On the right is a red, white, and blue shield containing text and flanked by two blue and white block letters. There are two squares of adhesive residue on the back.