GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL Rare, over-sized, vintage matte-finish photograph of the general in full-uninform! Autograph Inscribed Photograph: " To Captain Timothy Donohue USN, with appreciation/ and warm regards of G. C. Marshall.", vintage, 11x13½. George Catlett Marshall (1880-1959) served on General Pershing's staff during World War I, helping to plan the Meuse-Argonne offensive which hastened the defeat of Germany. He was Army Chief of Staff (1939-1945) and President Roosevelt's principle military advisor throughout World War II. He took charge of the weak, poorly-equipped US Army in 1939 and expanded it 40-fold en route to victory. Marshall, whom Winston Churchill called "the architect of victory," became the first General of the Army (5 stars) in 1944. President Truman sent Marshall in 1945 to mediate between the Communist and Nationalist forces in China, a mission which failed, and which led to attacks on the General by Senator Joseph McCarthy 8 years later. As Secretary read more...

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT As Governor of New York, he used this red, silver-tipped pen to sign a railroad bill creating the Board of Transit Control in 1931 Document Signed: "Franklin D Roosevelt", 1 page, 9x14½. Albany, New York. April 27, 1931. Certificate authenticating that FDR used the attached pen to sign Senate Bill 12, the railroad unification bill. In full: "THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the pen hereunto affixed was used by me in signing Senate Bill Introductory Number 12, Printed Number 2455, entitled: 'AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to the plan of readjustment provided for in article seven thereof, to authorize the creation of the board of transit control and subsidiary corporations, to prescribe its and their duties and powers, to exempt its and their properties, income and securities from taxation and to make such securities legal investments, and to authorize the acquisition and operation of railroads and other transportation facilities, and otherwise.' and which became a law by my signature April 23, 1931, being Chapter 689 of the Laws of 1931. read more...

ERWIN ROMMEL. TLS: "Rommel" as Major, in pencil, 1p, 8¼x7½. Dresden, 1933 April 3. In German with full English translation. To publishers Mittler & Sons, Berlin. In full: "Due to overwhelming work and my absence from the city, I am finally able to answer your letter from April 16 today. I thank you for forwarding the pre-war correspondences. For the final selection of Zug & Company correspondences, I have looked at your choices and will come to a final decision on which to use. I would be happy to receive a new copy of F.u.G. Even though I had worked with this in the beginning, the final version is not that familiar to me. The new F.u.G. brings many new things especially names, terms or possibly drawings. With our pre-discussed business contract, I am still in agreement. I doubt I can get to it before mid-June with my work set to begin. When would you like the final draft?" In World War I, Rommel distinguished himself as a great front-line leader. By the time of this letter, he was considered a fine teacher. Four years later, he published his respected work on training and military tactics, Infanterie Greiftan read more...

KING GEORGE VI, CO-SIGNED BY: QUEEN ELIZABETH (THE QUEEN MOTHER) This exquisite presentation album - signed by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth as King and Emperor and as Queen Consort - contains an historic 78-RPM recording of the BBC radio broadcast of George VI's coronation and an address by him as king. It comes framed, Gallery of History Style, in a presentation case with a UV-resistant UF-3 Plex lid. Two items: 1) Album signed "George R I" by King George VI and "Elizabeth R" by Queen Elizabeth on vellum inside front cover. "14¼x12½x3¾. On cover: "The Coronation/of/The Majesties/King George VI and Queen Elizabeth/in/Westminster Abbey/and/H.M. The King's Broadcast Message/May 12th, 1937" in gilt. "R.I" stands for "Rex Imperator" (King Emperor), a title used from 1877, when Queen Victoria became Empress of India, to 1948, following Indian independence. Album has purple satiny-fabric endpapers. Contains 15 78-RPM records, 11¾ inches in diameter each by the Gramophone Co., Ltd. read more...

FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT'S THIRD INAUGURATION Oversize black and white photograph showing FDR being inaugurated for his third term, signed by the President, his Vice President and Secretary of State, Chief Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Hughes and Supreme Court Clerk Charles Elmore Cropley, who held the President's family bible while the oath was administered. Handsomely framed to 17½x15. Photograph signed: "Franklin D Roosevelt", "Charles E. Hughes, Jan. 20, 1941", "Charles Elmore Cropley/January 20, 1941.", "Cordell Hull" and "H.A. Wallace", B/w 13¼x10¼, framed to 17½x15. On Monday, January 20, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the nation's first and only president to be inaugurated to a third term in office. FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT (1882-1945, born in Hyde Park, New York) is an American politician who served as president during two of the most difficult times in world history, the Great Depression and World War II. He also served as president for four terms (1933-1945), longer than any other president in history. read more...

GENERAL COURTNEY H. HODGES Photograph signed in 1946 by the Commanding Army General that was first to enter Paris in World War II! Autographed Photograph Signed: " Courtney H. Hodges/Gen. U.S. Army/Dec. 1, 1946.", 8x10. Reverse bears a Signal Corps credit stamp. Hodges (1887-1966) was the Commanding General of the Third U.S. Army from February 16, 1943 to January 25, 1944, when he turned it over to Lieutenant General Patton. First Army soldiers commanded by Hodges were the first Americans to enter Paris on their way across Northern France and through the Ardennes Forest. They were also the first to cross the Siegfried Line into Germany in September 1944 and reach the Rhine in March 1945. Minor surface creasing and slightly creased and worn at corners and edges. Ink stamps and notes (unknown hand) on verso. Fine condition. Accompanied by PSA/DNA LOA. read more...

EMPEROR HIROHITO, CO-SIGNED BY: EISAKU SATO and SHIINA ETSUSABURO In this very rare and important 1965 document, Emperor Hirohito notified Bolivian President René Barrientos that he was recalling Japan's ambassador to Bolivia. Also signed by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and Foreign Minister Shiina Etsusaburo Document signed "Hirohito", "Eisaku Sato" and "Shiina Etsusaburo", with red ink seals. 2 pages, 9¾x13¼, 1 sheet folded, front and verso, on cardstock, with embossed Imperial Seal of Japan at top edge of page 1. With two binder holes at left edge. Dec. 21, 1965. Addressed to René Barrientos, President of Bolivia. In Japanese, partially translated: "The important mission of Mr. Eiji Kawasaki is at an end, the Japanese government having recalled him, whom it had accredited Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary…" Lightly toned. Light impressions on letter (do not touch sigangures). Show-through from seals on page 2. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Untranslated Japanese language letter of transmittal. Lightly toned and creased. read more...

JOSEPH STILWELL Vintage matte-finish 8 x 10 photo of General Stilwell wearing his four-star uniform Photograph signed: "Joseph W. Stilwell/Gen., U.S.A.", 8x10. Collector's notations to reverse date the autograph to May 28, 1946. Joseph Warren Stilwell (1883-1946) was a tactically skilled US Army officer who, at the date of this letter, was training the newly formed US Seventh Division. If assigned to the European or Pacific Theaters when World War II commenced, Stilwell might have been remembered as a gifted corps commander. Instead, President Roosevelt sent him in 1942 to the China-Burma-India Theater, where he led British and Chinese forces in combat and served as Chief of Staff to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. Stilwell, who reveled in the nickname "Vinegar Joe," was not a talented diplomat. Although he led British troops on foot in a daring escape from Burma, he soon antagonized British commanders and Chiang himself. (Stilwell came read more...

PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT This large 14½x18¼ sketch of the President who was elected to four terms in office is signed by him! Sketch Signed: “Franklin D. Roosevelt” in pencil. Also signed by the artist and dated circa 1941. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) is one of the best-known Presidents in United States history. Before his tenure in the Oval Office, he served as Governor of New York. This position gave him valuable experience working with progressive-minded individuals to improve the economy. He served in the position for just over 12 years, dying 11 weeks into his fourth term. Roosevelt oversaw the U.S. during the Great Depression and World War II. His progressive platform introduced Social Security and the first national minimum wage. During his first term as Commander-in-Chief, he ended Prohibition. This decision is largely credited with helping him to a landslide 1936 election victory. Frame slightly chipped at corners. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 26¾x37. read more...