Original Item: Only One Available. The start of World War I reignited Polish dreams of self-determination. Two years later, in 1916, the Polish cartographer, Eugeniusz Romer (1871-1954), illustrated the rise and fall of his country in a map titled “History.” The map was part of his atlas known as the “Geographical and Statistical Atlas of Poland” that later helped shape Poland’s independence in the Paris peace negotiations of 1919.

Upon the American entrance into the war in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson articulated the idea of a free Poland among the goals outlined in his Fourteen Points. The defeat of Germany and Austro-Hungary, and the collapse of imperial Russia, ended the main barriers to Poland’s independence.

This poster, which is entirely printed in Polish, was directed to Polish-Americans to help encourage the purchase of Liberty Bonds to help the reconstruction of Poland.

The Poster Message Is As Follows:

"Powinno być zbudo
wane niepodległe
państwo Polskie!"
-Prezydent Wilson
KUPUJ
LIBERTY BONDS

(BONDY WOLNOŚCIOWE)
POMÓŻ DO
WYGRANIA WOJNY I
ODBUDOWANIA
POLSKI!

English Translation:

"An independent
Polish state
should be built!"
- President Wilson

BUY
LIBERTY BONDS
HELP TO
WIN THE WAR
AND REBUILD
POLAND!

The poster is in good condition overall with all colors still vibrant. There is some heavy creasing and wear across, and there is a large tear near the top which has been repaired with tape to the back. There are small tears along the edges. This example would look best framed.

Comes ready to frame and display!

A Liberty bond (or liberty loan) was a war bond that was sold in the United States to support the Allied cause in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial securities to many citizens for the first time.

There were four issues of Liberty Bonds:

-April 24, 1917: Emergency Loan Act authorizes issue of $1.9 billion in bonds at 3.5 percent.
- October 1, 1917: Second Liberty Loan offers $3.8 billion in bonds at 4 percent
- April 5, 1918: Third Liberty Loan offers $4.1 billion in bonds at 4.15 percent.
- September 28, 1918: Fourth Liberty Loan offers $6.9 billion in bonds at 4.25 percent.

Interest on up to $30,000 in the bonds was tax exempt only for the First Liberty Bond.

A fifth bond issue relating to World War I was released on April 21, 1919. Consisting of $4.5 billion of gold notes at 4.75% interest, they matured after four years but could be redeemed by the government after three. Exempt from all income taxes, they were called at the time "the last of the series of five Liberty Loans." However they were also called the "Victory Liberty Loan," and appear this way on posters of the period.