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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

GEORGE S. PATTON, JR. The General signs this letter to his sister, Nita, regarding his service guiding French Premier George Clemenceau around Baltimore and family matters Typed letter signed: "G S Patton Jr.", 1¼p, 6½x10¼. No place, 1922 Dec. 5. To "Dear Nita". With Patton's misspellings and grammatical errors. In part: "I only got back at noon from Baltimore where I have been with the squadron since last Thursday parading at Army Day celebrations and escorting the reluctant Clamenceau around the dirtier parts of the city which tradition say were the haunts of LaFayatte. Neither Clamenceau nor we was much impressed by the ceremony but the colored population had quite a thrill and they are tax payers...B. and the children got back this morning from Boston R-E. has the poison ivy other wise all are as usual. I had a book sent to my self at home which is a present so dont have it opened if it gets there before I do. There are to be all sorts of good by parties for us next week so we shall get on the train more dead than alive. Willie Hortons mother died the other day. I am a paul bearer. I specialise in funerals... 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...

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...

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...