General MacArthur Jigsaw Puzzle

A jigsaw puzzle of American General Douglas MacArthur with soldiers, tanks, guns and aircraft superimposed over the image. Title reads, "Allied Victory – Printed in full colour! General MacArthur Jigsaw – interlocking over 100 pieces. Special Wartime Packing. General MacArthur. Read the story of General MacArthur on the other side of pack".

Includes original packaging of an illustrated envelope, with the jigsaw image printed on the front in blue ink and a small copy of the jigsaw illustration and story about MacArthur on the back.  
Part of the Children's Literature Research Collection.

General Douglas MacArthur was promoted as "Supreme Commander-in-Chief" of the Forces of the Allied Nations in the South Western Pacific theatre of the Second World War. This jigsaw is an example of wartime propoganda produced on the Australian homefront to reinforce allied unity between Australian and American forces. The use of only a few colours is indicative of wartime rationing of printing ink however cardboard and paper were not restricted and such puzzles could be manufactured and distributed cheaply. People could then buy them to show their patriotism and support the war effort.

In a similar vein is another John Sands jigsaw held by the State Library called 'United in Victory’. It shows a stylised World War II image of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin,  published by John Sands, Sydney in 1942.