“Buy Liberty Bonds” was one of many posters issued by the United States government during World War I to encourage support of the war. This poster was commissioned by the United States Department of Treasury from an unknown artist in 1917. The poster features a head and shoulder sketch of American President Abraham Lincoln, and a quote from his Gettysburg Address: “That Government of the People, by the People, for the People Shall not Perish from the Earth.” During the first World War, Abraham Lincoln's reputation extended to the international arena. For who could more perfectly symbolize the international fight for freedom--the fight to make the world safe for democracy--than America's own Abraham Lincoln? Excerpts of his most stirring speeches were revived on posters, encouraging Americans to "Buy Liberty Bonds" and "Save Food for World Relief." This poster was created and reproduced as a lithographic print at the time of its distribution.
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