"Keep it under your hat!"

Place Europe: United Kingdom
Accession Number ARTV01618
Collection type Art
Measurement Overall: 76 x 50.8 cm
Object type Poster
Physical description Offset lithograph on paper
Maker Gilroy, John
H.M. Stationery Office
J. Weiner Ltd.
Date made c.1940-1941
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

British Second World War poster cautioning against careless talk. In the top quarter of the poster is an image of a British steel helmet, with the title printed underneath and the message appearing in red ink at the bottom of the poster. The British Government became increasingly aware of the danger of the release of sensitive information to enemy spies, particularly in regard to troop and ship movements. The Government commissioned the series 'careless talk costs lives' to create awareness of the danger of careless talk. This poster is one of the original series produced early in the war. The later series, 'careless talk costs lives' by Fougasse, became icons of the campaign.