Roberts Superman Defense Club of America



Roberts Superman Defense League - Pledge Stamp No. 1

In 1941, Roberts Dairy of Nebraska released a set of twelve milk bottle cap covers, each containing a different national defense pledge. The two-color cardboard discs, referred to as "stamps," measure approximately 1.53 inches in diameter. The image is based on the cover of Superman #6 (September–October 1940), penciled by Joe Shuster and inked by Paul Cassidy.

The Roberts Dairy "stamps" are the earliest known examples of Superman milk caps. Cardboard milk caps were first patented in 1889 by Harvey and Samuel Barnhart. Milk cap collecting peaked during the 1990s with the commercialization of a Hawaiian game commonly known as POGs.

Roberts Superman Defense League - Pledge Stamps

Each cap states, "Save All Twelve Stamps - Become Member Of Roberts Superman Defense Club". The back of each cap reads, "SAVE THIS STAMP. When you have collected the complete set of 8 different stamps, you will be enrolled as a member of the Superman Defense Club of America." A complete set of twelve caps could be redeemed for a premium brass badge.

Superman Junior Defense League of America : Premium Pinback Badge

For ten cents and two milk caps, members could receive a premium Superman Secret Chamber Initial Ring made by the Ostby & Barton Company. Each adjustable brass ring contains a secret compartment that reveals a Superman, Inc. logo sticker. Club members could select a single letter initial. Less than twenty of the Secret Chamber rings are estimated to exist.


1942 Roberts Dairy - Superman Defense Club of America


On May 20, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8757 Establishing the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD). Regional programs were organized throughout the United States in cooperation with OCD and the Department of War. Supermen of America advertisements began encouraging readers to buy Savings Bonds and Defense Stamps in Action Comics #43, on sale October 14, 1941.

The Superman Junior Defense League of America was marketed by various bread bakeries and radio stations that aired The Adventures of Superman. Local sponsors of the Superman Victory Kid Club included Boskman Variety, Village Pharmacy and Fountain, and Wigmore Dairy.

Roberts Superman Defense League - Code Note No. 3

Roberts later produced a series of twenty "Code Note" milk caps for the Supermen of America Club. "Code Note" caps consist of two layers with a stapled die cut pull-tab, know as the "Perfection Pull Cap." Each Roberts Milk "Code Note" contains a different coded message. "Superman's Secret Message!" first appeared in Action Comics #15 (August 1939). Coded messages were intermittently printed in issues of Action Comics and Superman.

Supermen of America - Superman's Secret Code (1939–1965)


Pledge Stamps Checklist
1 I PLEDGE allegiance to my flag.
2 I PLEDGE a good deed a day for National Defense.
3 I PLEDGE to help the Scouts, Red Cross and similar organizations.
4 I PLEDGE to drink a quart of Roberts milk dairy.
5 I PLEDGE to be helpful, courteous, and obedient to others.
6 I PLEDGE to respect the property of others.
7 I PLEDGE to be honest at all times.
8 I PLEDGE to be careful while crossing the street.
9 I PLEDGE to save pennies for National Defense Stamps.
10 I PLEDGE to keep my mind and body clean.
11 I PLEDGE to be friendly and cheerful with others.
12 I PLEDGE not to reveal the Superman code.
Code Notes Checklist
1 Mars PHPEHUV RI UREHUWV MEMBERS OF ROBERTS
2 Neptune ZBWLYTHU KLMLUZL SUPERMAN DEFENSE
3 Saturn HQZG: STB DTZ HFS GJ CLUB: NOW YOU CAN BE
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5 Mercury BNFSJDBO JG ZPV QSPNJTF AMERICAN IF YOU PROMISE
6 Pluto BW AIDM GWCZ XMVVQMA TO SAVE YOUR PENNIES
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8 Venus UCXKPIU UVCORU OCMG SAVINGS STAMPS MAKE
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11 Jupiter WIGVIX GSHI RSXIW SECRET CODE NOTES
12 Mercury (ZPV NVTU IBWF BMM UXFOUZ) (YOU MUST HAVE ALL TWENTY)
13 Uranus OT GT KTBKRUVK COZN IN AN ENVELOPE WITH
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15 Venus CPF IKXG KV VQ AQWT AND GIVE IT TO YOUR
16 Neptune NYVJLY VY YVILYAZ GROCER OR ROBERTS
17 Krypton AXDCN BJUNBVJW OXA ROUTE SALESMAN FOR
18 Saturn DTZW KWJJ WTGJWYX YOUR FREE ROBERTS
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