Uncle Sam’s image came from the poster artist’s own face, not an official model

Evidence

26. When creator James Montgomery Flagg later presented a copy of the poster to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Flagg revealed that he had used himself as a model for the image of Uncle Sam to avoid paying a modeling fee. The real-life inspiration for Uncle Sam, however, is somewhat more ambiguous and still in dispute. One popular theory links the inspiration for the national symbol to Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy, New York, who during the War of 1812 supplied meat to the American troops. Complying with labeling requirements, Wilson marked each package with “E.A.-U.S.,” which likely stood for Elbert Anderson Jr., Wilson’s contractor, and United States. But local soldiers attributed the U.S. stamp as standing for “Uncle Sam” Wilson. — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 1206

Categorization

• CANDY: Fun trivia: the Uncle Sam poster artist posed as his own model to dodge paying a modeling fee.
• XREF: connects to: The Uncle Sam poster arose from America’s lack of a living war figurehead — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 161

Broader Connections

• The Uncle Sam poster arose from America’s lack of a living war figurehead #qualifies (0.75) — Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, 161