Allies to Stamp Out the Enemy!
Updated: Sep 25, 2019
After Mother's kitchen was renovated (the house was built in 1920) we found some patriotic housewife's (most likely Ms. Airheart's) Department of Defense Savings Bond Book between the wall and a built in pantry in the breakfast nook.
The promotion of war savings stamps during World War II was closely tied with the promotion of the Series E war bonds. In order to mobilize the home front to support the war efforts ideologically and financially, the Treasury Department’s primary message revolved around patriotism. With support from the advertising industry, which donated $250 million worth of advertising during the first three years of the campaign, war bonds and stamps permeated everyday life. Advertisements appeared as posters on trolley cars, songs on the radio, and movies featuring Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. Utilizing the concept of market segmentation, numerous campaigns were developed to target different populations such as women, immigrants, and children. The Treasury developed classroom material that highlighted the positive impact of war savings stamps while enforcing math skills
The war savings stamps introduced during World War II were released in five different denominations – 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, one dollar, and five dollars, all featuring a Minuteman statue. These stamps were purchased at face value and earned no interest. Individuals accumulated their war savings stamps in various collection booklets provided with the purchase of a stamp. Filled collection booklets could later be used to purchase Series E war bonds. For example, a full 25-cent booklet contained 75 stamps and was worth $18.75, which was the initial price of a $25 war bond. Thus, a full 25-cent booklet would be exchanged for a $25 war bond with a time to maturity of ten years.
What should you do if you find one of these in your family's "forgotten" treasure trove (often the attic!!)?
The Treasury Department has an online calculator - https://www.treasurydirect.gov/BC/SBCPrice . You will need the following information:
* The bond’s series (E, EE, I, Savings Notes)
* The bond’s denomination ($10, $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000)
* The bond’s serial number (found in the lower right corner)
* The bond’s issue date (found in the upper right corner; enter two-digit month and four-digit year
" The U.S. Treasury warns users to beware of scam websites that look like the Treasury’s calculator but ask you to enter your birth certificate number to find out whether you own bonds. They are fraudulent, as the online calculator is designed to only provide the value of your bond. "