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...

CHESTER NIMITZ Photo of Nimitz signing the instrument of Japan's surrender in 1945, inscribed in the lower margin to friend and Bank of America founder John Mulvaney. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To John J. Mulvaney - with best wishes and great appreciation of/your many contributions to the welfare of our navy. C. W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral, US Navy". B/w 14x11 overall, image 10x8, one surface. Shown aboard the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay, September 2, 1945, signing the instrument of Japanese surrender. Behind the seated Nimitz stand General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Admiral William F. Halsey, and Rear Admiral Forrest Sherman. There is also a facsimile signature of Nimitz in the picture. Nimitz (1885-1966), Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (1941-1945), was promoted to the newly created Five-Star rank of Admiral of the Fleet in December 1944. Assuming command immediately after Pearl Harbor, he led the successful naval, air and land campaign across the Pacific to assure Japan's defeat. Nimitz served as Chief of Naval Operations from 1945-1947. John J. read more...

JOSEPH STALIN His very rare signature on an autograph note to Defense Commissar Voroshilov on a 1936 report concerning a new military technology! Rare ANS: "J. Stalin" in Russian in light green pencil at upper left of first page of Typed DS by two officials, 2 pages, 8¼x11½. U.S.S.R., 1936 January 13. Headed: "Report". Stalin has written, in full: "To Comrade Voroshilov/What does this mean?" The report (not translated) concerns the discovery of an infrared detector with military applications. Untranslated notes in red and blue pencil at top of first page. JOSEPH STALIN (1879-1953) was General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party from 1922-1953. After Lenin's death in 1924, he eliminated his opposition and established himself as dictator. Stalin's "Great Purge" from 1936-1938 rid the Communist Party of all the people who had brought him to power. Soviet Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov estimated that more than 1.2 million party members (more than half the party) 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...

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...

FRITZ SAUCKEL These incredibly rare documents are a handwritten, dated and signed account of Nazi Germany's forced labor and mass deportation operations by Germany's chief of slave labor recruitment. They were written by Sauckel for his lawyer during his trial before the International Military Tribunal in Nuremburg after World War II. They are important documentation of the 20th century's worst war and of some of the worst atrocities ever recorded in human history. They are also a typical example of the defense used by many defendants in the postwar Nuremberg trials: they were only following orders. This defense failed to sway Sauckel's tribunal; he was found guilty of war crimes and later hanged. Historically Important Autograph Manuscript signed twice (at top of first page and at bottom of last page): "Fritz Sauckel", in pencil, as war crimes defendant, 26 pages, 8x10½. IN GERMAN WITH 1945 ENGLISH TRANSLATION WITH FOOTNOTES AND COMMENTS. Nuremburg [Germany], 1945 July 15. This text was provided by Sauckel to his attorney as a means of fully describing the organization of the forced labor department, and Sauckel's duties and responsibilities. read more...

THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY: KING GEORGE VI, QUEEN ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH II, and MARGARET All four members of the family signed this album cover specially made for recordings that commemorate Elizabeth II's 16th birthday Album Cover Signed: “George R.I.”, “Elizabeth R.”, “Elizabeth”, and “Margaret”. A rare set of six BBC records, pressed after a Royal Command Performance of the radio show It's That Man Again (1939-1949). The show was the first Royal Command Performance of a radio show ever. The show was done on April 21, 1942, the day of Elizabeth II's 16th birthday. The signed album was given to star of the show Tommy Handley after the performance at Windsor Castle, the two princesses' home for five years during WWII. It's That Man Again satirized the rule of Adolf Hitler and boosted morale of the British home front during the war. A Royal Command Performance is when the reigning monarch specifically requests a show. Before this instance, it was typically theatrical or orchestral in medium. 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...

OMAR BRADLEY A bound copy of his Memorial Day Address (1948), inscribed and signed to his longtime secretary, Mary Pitcairn, by America's last five-star general Speech inscribed and signed: "To Miss Mary Pitcairn/With appreciation for/your loyal and/untiring assistance/Omar N. Bradley", 5p, 6x9. Leather-bound, soft cover copy of his Memorial Day Address, titled "That We Might Learn to Live as Bravely as They Died", Longmeadow, Massachusetts, 1948. Inscribed and signed on third free end page. Omar N. Bradley (1893-1981), a corps commander in North Africa and Sicily (1943), commanded of the U.S. First Army, which landed at Utah and Omaha beaches, Normandy, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. In August 1944, he became the Commander of the 12th Army Group, the largest force ever commanded on the field. He headed the new Veterans Administration (1945-1948). On September 20, 1950, Bradley was promoted to Five-Star General of the Army, and would be the last surviving general of 5-star rank. From 1950 to 1953, he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lacking the arrogance and ostentation of some other generals, Bradley became known as "the soldier's general. read more...