This is an original Savings Bond from the United States Treasury, dated 1940s. The certificate features a distinctive red and white candy cane striped border with wooden frame appearance, designed by renowned cartoonist Al Capp. Never issued. The vignette showcases whimsical cartoon-style characters representing American virtues including 'Young America', 'Thrift', 'Loyalty', 'Trust', 'Duty', 'Common Cents', and 'Truth', all drawn in Capp's signature educational propaganda style to encourage wartime savings bond purchases.

Al Capp, creator of the beloved comic strip "Li'l Abner," was recruited by the U.S. Treasury during World War II to design promotional materials that would make savings bonds appealing to everyday Americans. Capp's folksy, accessible art style proved perfect for translating complex financial concepts into digestible visual messages for a nation mobilizing for war. His anthropomorphized virtues - including the running figure of 'Young America' and the thrifty pig - embodied the home front values that Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. wanted to promote. The savings bond program ultimately raised over $185 billion for the war effort, with celebrity-designed certificates like Capp's playing a crucial role in making bond purchases feel patriotic rather than merely financial. Capp's involvement reflected the broader mobilization of American popular culture, where comic strip artists, Hollywood stars, and Madison Avenue advertisers all contributed their talents to the war effort.

You will receive a certificate similar to the one shown. While each piece shares the same design and era, slight variations in serial numbers, signatures, and natural aging may occur. This example shows some age-appropriate wear and light discoloration that adds character to the piece.

World War II savings bonds designed by famous artists represent a unique intersection of American popular culture and wartime finance, making them highly sought after by both scripophily collectors and comic art enthusiasts. Offered as a collectible.