Date: 1916
Size: 24 x 35.5 inches each
Artist: Unknown artist
About the poster : During the First World War, the various governments involved in the conflict produced numerous posters to encourage military recruitment as well as civilian and community participation in the war effort. The Canadian government was no exception: it commissioned various artists and printers to create posters intended to mobilize Canadian society and rally the population to the cause. At the time, posters were one of the primary visual mediums for disseminating information and arguably one of the most effective.
This pair of poster titled To Maintain the Prosperity of Canada and Pour maintenir la prospérité du Canada, were created during the First World War (1914–1918) as part of a Canadian government campaign encouraging citizens to purchase Victory Bonds. The posters feature images of agricultural work, shipbuilding, and ammunition production, highlighting Canada's economic and industrial contributions to the war effort. Their message encourages Canadians to invest in Victory Bonds, offering an interest tax-free, to help finance the war while maintaining the country's prosperity.
An important aspect of these posters is that they exist in both English and French, reflecting Canada's two main official language communities and the government's effort to reach both English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. They demonstrate how wartime propaganda was adapted to Canada's bilingual population to encourage national participation and unity.
Victory Bonds, also known as war bonds, were loans that citizens could provide to the government to help pay for military expenses and support the war effort. In return, the government promised to repay the money with interest after a set period. By purchasing these bonds, Canadians could contribute financially to the war without serving directly in the military.Historically, these posters demonstrate how the Canadian government used advertising and patriotic messages to mobilize the population, strengthen national solidarity, and finance the war.
These are rare posters and are held in the collections of different museums and archival institutions dedicated to the First World War. Please don't hesitate to contact us for further information about this piece.
This poster is in very good condition, with some small tears along the edges and some ink marks at the bottom. Please see pictures for more details. A true collector item, ready to framed!
