WW1 - War Savings Stamps
1918 - Original Poster

The war savings stamp (WSS) was a patriotic program used by the United States Treasury to help fund participation in World War I and World War II, and was principally aimed at school-age children. Savings stamps were available in ten cent and twenty-five cent versions, and provided interest. In some cases collections of stamps could be redeemed for war bonds.

The rainbow depicted in this poster shows the need for American support to help end the war which is symbolized by the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  On the right side of the poster, people from specific socio-economic statuses are depicted.  These particular images were chosen to show that help was needed, but only from businessmen and well-off individuals who could afford to help.  At this time in history there was a feeling that only men could afford to help.  The women and her child who are standing off in the distance are omitted from this group.  These adults were the ones who had to pay for the savings stamps, while others such as women and children would only benefit from the actions.  The success and wellbeing of America and its people were at stake. 

The background of this poster is meaningful as well.  The whole United States is portrayed, from forest and blue skies, to the clouds surrounding the Capitol building off in the distance, to a smog-covered city.  These images show the United States as a whole, united, with the rainbow connecting all aspects of the country.  The text from this poster is also very important.  The "flood" refers to the war itself, while the rainbow is a visual aid that shows that with the efforts of those capable individuals, the war would come to an end.  The text implies that without the purchase of war savings stamps, it will be hard for the "Rainbow of Victory" to exist.