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Buy War Bonds

Poster
1943 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster quotes former American President and national hero Abraham Lincoln. It recontextualises one of Lincoln's best-known anti-slavery messages to create associations between the inhumanity of African-American slavery and the brutality of Nazi concentration and prisoner of war camps. The goal is to encourage Americans to contribute to the War Bonds fund to assist in the war effort and free those enslaved. Because the American people did not experience the harsh realities of World War II to the same extent as their British or continental counterparts, this poster appeals to the shameful memory of the American slave trade.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleBuy War Bonds (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
lithograph
Brief description
"Buy War Bonds" Second World War poster by B. Rig [unclear] promoting communal responsibility. Quotes Abraham Lincoln and features his portrait. USA, 1943.
Physical description
Illustration (sketch) of Abraham Lincoln's head.
Marks and inscriptions
  • U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943-O-503946 WSS 723
  • B. Rig (signed within image)
  • "The World cannot exist/ half slave and half free" / BUY WAR BONDS
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This poster quotes former American President and national hero Abraham Lincoln. It recontextualises one of Lincoln's best-known anti-slavery messages to create associations between the inhumanity of African-American slavery and the brutality of Nazi concentration and prisoner of war camps. The goal is to encourage Americans to contribute to the War Bonds fund to assist in the war effort and free those enslaved. Because the American people did not experience the harsh realities of World War II to the same extent as their British or continental counterparts, this poster appeals to the shameful memory of the American slave trade.
Other number
LS.2474 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.987-2004

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Record createdOctober 21, 2004
Record URL
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