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...

HEINRICH HIMMLER This very rare piece is a letter written by Heinrich Himmler to his mistress Maria Podhorzer in 1940, the year that he separated from his wife Margarete Siegroth. It's written on the back of a b/w picture post card of Himmler with two children in Krakow, Poland, which German had conquered the year before. Autograph letter signed "*" in pencil. Pencil notations in unknown hand in top left corner. 1 page, 5¼x4 with scalloped edges. Written on the back of a picture post card of Himmler with two children in Krakow, Poland, which was conquered by Germany in 1939. Card by the Photo Department of the Krakow District. Jan. 28, 1940. Addressed to his mistress Maria Podhorzer. Written in German, translated: "I am very well. The trip was very interesting. I was very happy with both letters. All dear and good things to you". In 1940, Himmler separated from Margarete Siegroth, his wife since 1926. Himmler (1900-1945) became Chief of the Gestapo in 1936. He was second only to Hitler in power. Himmler was in charge of the establishment of concentration camps and the internment of Jews and others and directed Hitler's extermination campaign. read more...

AUDIE MURPHY The Hollywood actor and World War II hero's lieutenant's hat, a lobby card for his film Battle at Bloody Beach and a signed document. Comprises: (1) Dark green officer's hat. The wool hat with black and gold piping bears a silver first lieutenant's bar pinned at front. When flattened, the hat measures 10x5. Fine condition. With color copy (on 8½x11 sheet) of the original signed card indicating that "Lt. Audie Murphy, U.S.A." donated this hat to the "Navy Relief Fund Auction". These auctions, held for the benefit of Navy veterans, were first held in 1944. Heavily creased. (2) Original unsigned color lobby card, color, 14x11. Battle at Bloody Beach stars Audie Murphy (pictured) as Craig Benson, a civilian working for the Navy helping supply guerilla insurgents in the Philippines in WWII. His sole motive is to find his bride from whom he was separated during the Japanese invasion two years earlier. Lightly creased at lower margin. Lightly soiled and stained. Ink and pencil notes (unknown hand) on verso (no show through). (3) Document Signed: "Audie/Murphy", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1969 June 19. In part: " read more...

JOSEPH STALIN, KLIMENT VOROSHILOV, and KIRILL MERETSKOV With war looming in 1938, Stalin signs a key document reorganizing a Red Army recently beset by his devastating purges! Extremely rare! Document signed (in Cyrillic alphabet): "S", "K. Voroshilov", "K. Meretskov", 3 pages, 7½x12. Moscow, 1938 July 14. Initialed by Stalin on p1, countersigned by Voroshilov and Meretskov (as Secretary) on p3. Headed: "Top Secret Copy No 1 Protocol No 12 of the meeting of the Chief Council of War of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army". In Cyrillic script, with accompanying English translation. Decisions of a meeting held that day, attended by Stalin, Voroshilov, [Foreign Minister Vyacheslav] Molotov, and by five high-ranking army generals: [Efim] Shchadenko, [Boris] Shaposhnikov, [Aleksandr] Loktionov, [Dimitrii] Pavlov, and [Kirill] Meretskov (who also signed the document as Secretary). The document provides detailed instructions for reorganizing Soviet military commands in the Kiev Special 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...