Starve Him With Silence

This original World War II poster, titled “Starve Him With Silence”, is a vivid example of wartime propaganda aimed at promoting operational security among civilians and service members. Created around 1943, the poster was sponsored by the Seagram Distillers Corporation as part of a larger campaign to discourage loose talk that could lead to the unintentional leaking of sensitive information.The striking image features a grotesque rat emblazoned with a swastika, hungrily tearing into a sack marked “War Secrets.” The message is clear and chilling: careless words can feed the enemy. The phrase “Starve Him With Silence” serves as a call to action, reminding Americans that silence is patriotic—and essential for victory.The poster is signed “Essargee,” a pseudonym for Seymour R. Goff (1899–1977), a commercial illustrator and graphic designer whose work gained recognition during the 1930s and 1940s. Goff contributed numerous illustrations to advertising campaigns, educational materials, and public service messaging during WWII. While not as widely known as contemporaries like Norman Rockwell, Goff’s posters are distinguished by their bold use of symbolism, emotional appeal, and clarity of message. His wartime work often featured anthropomorphized animals or sinister caricatures to visually represent the enemy, a common visual strategy in Allied propaganda.Sponsored by Seagram’s, this poster was distributed widely in bars, taverns, and other social venues—settings where casual conversation might occur. Its placement in these environments was a strategic effort to remind the public of the very real dangers of seemingly harmless chatter.This is an Original Vintage Poster; it is not a reproduction. It is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.