A UNIQUE Autographed Numbered Copy of My Experiences in The World War by General John J. Pershing profusely signed with WWI High Leader Autographs

There are more than 300 signatures of leaders, personalities, and participants in the Great War in these two books. There are at least 20 general grade officers (during WWI) and dozens of signatures of field grade and company grade officers destined to become generals. The signatures of Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Generals of the Army John J. Pershing (appears twice in this book), Douglas MacArthur lead a stellar cast of signatures that appear throughout both volumes of this set.

The books are the Author's Autographed Limited Edition of 1931, numbered 1646 of 2100 copies printed.

A very partial list of some of the high ranking signers of these books is listed below:

• President Harry S. Truman

• General Dwight D. Eisenhower

• General John J. Pershing (twice)

• General Douglas MacArthur

• General Charles Muir

• General Omar Bundy

• General William Wright

• General Charles Dawes

• General Mason Patrick

• General Frank Coe

• General Ben Foulois

• General Walter Bethal

• General Hugh Drum

• General Paul Malone

• General Henri Petain

• General Edward MacGlachlin

• Many more general officers

Also, scattered throughout the book, generally in the specific parts of the text that reference them personally -- or the unit they were assigned to -- are a number of other signatures. Most of them are annotated with their rank, unit and branch of service. There are signatures from the following branches of the services:

• US Army

• • Army Nurse Corps

  • Medical Corps

  • Air Service (several IDed to specific squadrons, including the 1st Pursuit Squadron, and others

  • Balloon Units

  • Field Artillery

  • Cavalry

  • Infantry

  • Transportation

  • Machine Gun Battalions

  • Chemical Mortar (Gas Regiments)

  • General Staff

  • Many many others

• USNRF

• USMC

• B&O Railroad (Daniel Willard, who took over the French Railroad system)

• American Field Service

• Volunteer Ambulance Drivers

• American Red Cross

• Others

Many of the signatures have not been identified, simply because there are so many of them. Most of the signers made significant contributions to the war, were highly decorated, high ranking, or of other importance.

The thumbnails below link to larger images. As these are autographs, they are shown in detailed LARGE images. The thumbnails should open a new window so you don't get lost. Simply close it when you are done. Please note, you only are seeing about 100 of the signatures here, there are a couple hundred more that simply can't be shown practically.

The condition of the books is used, but generally near excellent and very well-cared for. There are markings throughout from signers and signs of frequent careful use. There is some wear to the covers and spines, as shown below:

This is a 1931 First Edition of the General of the Armies John J. Pershing's My Experiences in the World War in two volumes.

This book was mailed to General Pershing for his signature in 1935 by Major Clinton I. McClure, commander of the ROTC at Ohio State University in the 1930s.  It was forwarded to General Pershing for his signature by his aide, Captain G. E. Adamson, who subsequently returned it to Major Clinton.  The original package address block with routing information and US postmarks is included with this lot. Also included are original of the letter of transmittal and two carbon copies of the original request.

Also included in this lot are a 15 July 1948 original of General Order 50, announcement of the death of General Pershing, written by General Omar Bradley as Chief of Staff of the Army (front -- back).  There is a Sunday 18 July 1948 original obituary page from the Kansas City Star, a full 16 by 16 inch one page article with several historic photographs, a portion of which is shown here.

Volume 1 is signed and shown at the left, Volume 2 is not signed. There is also an article by General Douglas MacArthur included (page 1, page 2).

Vice President Richard Nixon 1961 Signed Letter

The condition of the letter is used, but generally near excellent and well-cared for. There is a single fold line from when it was mailed, as shown.

The content is intriguing, offering a couple of left-over VP ashtrays to Doctor Harry Kaplan, Nixon's personal dentist.

The original matching stationery envelope postmarked Los Angeles 18 March 1961 is shown here.

The letter is written on watermarked textured paper. The black quill pen Dick Nixon signature is not stamped and is not a secretarial signature.

Senator John F. Kennedy 1960 Signed Letter

A close-up of the quill penned signed signature is shown here.

The condition of the letter is used, but generally near excellent and well-cared for. There are marks from folds when mailed and some edge wear and slight discoloration from age, as shown.

The letter is written on John F. Kennedy for President letterhead on ATLANTIC BOND 20 watermarked paper. The John Kennedy signature is not stamped and is not a secretarial signature.

An Original and Authentic 1951 President Harry S Truman Initialed Memorandum on White House Stationery

This is an interesting -- if nothing else, for its brevity and cryptic content -- memo from the President to General Vaughan (Truman's Military Aide) to pass on to Colonel Hobbs his appreciation for a "30 year old sample" One might only speculate what the sample was....

This is a memo on Whitings Woven Linen watermarked embossed letterhead with simply the quill pen initials "HST", as shown here.

The condition of the signature card is generally near very good. There is some slight discoloration and some rust stains from a paper clip and signs of age.

The letter is written on a stationery measuring 8-3/4 by 6-7/8 inches.

An Original and Authentic 1957 President Harry S Truman Signed Letter to Author Arthur E. Rowse Regarding his Book

This is an interesting letter from former President Harry S Truman to a decidedly Democrat supporting author/journalist Arthur E. Rowse expressing his opinion of the book Rowse sent to him to read.

The letter is written on HST letterhead with a BROWOOD PARCHMENT 100% RAG CONTENT WASHINGTON watermarked embossed letterhead with black quill pen signature.  It is accompanied by a carbon of the return letter to Truman from Rowse, which clearly reveals his political bias, as shown here.

The condition of the letters is excellent. There are fold lines from mailing which do not impact the signature.

This is a review of the book referred to in both letters.  Note the Author rates the New York Times as the "Most Fair" newspaper in America, and the LA Times as being "Strongly Biased" Republican.

The HST letter is written on a stationery measuring 7-1/4 by 10-1/2 inches.

An Original and Authentic 1990s President Bill Clinton Autopen Signed Thank You Note

This is a gold embossed recycled paper note from the former president.

This is an autopen signed note as opposed to a printed signature.

The WJC note is printed on a card measuring 6-1/2 by 4-1/4 inches.

1921 General of the Armies John J. Pershing Letter Signed on Official Stationery

This is an interesting letter with content regarding the annual III Corps Army Day festivities (traditionally featuring a football game between the III Corps US Army football team and the USMC football team from Quantico).

This is a memo on General of the Armies embossed letterhead with CULABRA LINEN LEDGER watermark is quill pen signed, as shown here.

The condition of the letter is generally near very good. There is some slight discoloration and some holes from when it was stored in a hanging file and signs of age.

The letter is written on a stationery measuring 7 by 9-3/8 inches, folded as shown.

General John A. Lejeune was one of the Marine Corps stellar commanding generals.

This very well documented signature lot includes the original 1932 hand-addressed envelope, the double signed letter (click at the left), specifically addressing Colonel Hobbs, and mentions his new book, and includes the advertising matter and publisher's envelope.

The quill penned signed signature with WWI rank and command block is at the top, and a closing signature is at the bottom. Note his rank (Major General) and U.S.M.C. and Commander Second Division A.E.F. below his full name signature.

The condition of the entire lot is near excellent and well-cared for. There is some slight discoloration from age.

The letter is written on a cream colored watermarked Deerfield Bond Rag Content Virginia Military Institute letterhead stationery measuring 8-1/2 by 11-1/2 inches.

This is a Cold War era 1984 dated invitation to a reception and propaganda film showing at the PRC embassy in Washington, DC.

This note is hand dated Monday, September 17, 1984 with a 7 digit phone number handwritten on the note.  The PRC seal is heavy gold embossed on red.

The condition is near excellent. There is some slight discoloration from age.

The note measures 6-1/2 by 5 inches.

1922 General J. M. Wainwright Secretary of War Stationery Letter

This is an interesting letter with content regarding the annual III Corps Army Day festivities (traditionally featuring a football game between the III Corps US Army football team and the USMC football team from Quantico). At the time this letter was written, Wainwright was a field grade officer serving at Fort Myer. He was later to become commanding general of the Philippine Division, be captured by the Japanese and was awarded the Medal of Honor after the war.

This is a memo on War Department embossed letterhead with the US Army seal watermark is quill pen signed, as shown here.

The condition of the letter is generally near very good. There is some slight discoloration and some holes from when it was stored in a hanging file and signs of age.

Theodore Roosevelt was the son of President Theodore Roosevelt. This letter was written on his Oyster Bay stationery, however it was posted from Washington, DC. In 1932, he was Governor of Puerto Rico.

He was perhaps most remembered for being the first general ashore at Normandy (excluding the paratrooper generals further inland). He was in the first assault wave on Utah Beach, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. His son, Quentin Roosevelt was further down the beach. They are thought to be the only father-son pair to assault Normandy. He is further one of the few father-son pairs to win the Medal of Honor. A brief history of Major General Theodore Roosevelt is available here: http://www.users.voicenet.com/~lpadilla/roosevelt.html

Note the letter addresses Colonel Hobbs, and the envelope is addressed to him as well.

The condition of the letter and envelope is generally near excellent and well-cared for. There is some slight discoloration from age, and folds from mailing, as shown.

The letter is written on a cream colored stationery measuring 7-1/4 by 10-3/4 inches.

Smedley D. Butler is the only US Marine Corps officer to be awarded two Congressional Medal of Honor decorations. He served 33 years in the USMC, and was known as a bit of a maverick, despite his outstanding ability to command men. At 48, he became the youngest Marine to attain the rank of Major General in 1929.

A close-up of the quill penned signed signature is shown here. Note his rank (Brig. General) and U.S.M.C. below his S. D. Butler signature.

The condition of the signature clip is generally near excellent and well-cared for. There is some slight discoloration from age.

The signature is written on a cream colored stationery measuring 6 by 1-3/8 inches.

Medal of Honor Recipient Civil War General Orlando B. Willcox For Leading Several Charges in First Bull Run Action While Commanding a Brigade of Heintzelman's Division Signed Document

Willcox signs with his initials "O.B.W." , but writes his name "Willcox" in the text when referring to his wife.

A somewhat confidential letter written to another General. In full "Dear Genl. I return the papers with the best note I can write under an ulcerated tooth. Success to you my boy. The ground seems to be amply covered. Mrs. Willcox unites with me in kind regard to you and yours. Very Truly O.B.W."

In a postscript he adds "How is Maj. Lords eyesight, i.e. is it equal to large accounts and business? If so I may be of use to him. But this is strictly entre nous [between us], as your answer will be."

He commanded the 1st Division of Ambrose Burnside's IX Corps. He led the Division, and sometimes the Corps itself, at Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Knoxsville, and during Grant's Overland Campaign against Richmond in the summer of 1864.

Postwar, he commanded various positions in the West, including the Department of Arizona at the height of the Apache warfare.

He was also a General in the regular army.

The town of Willcox, AZ is named for him

There is age toning down the left hand edge affecting the front and back of the letter and about good condition.

Medal of Honor Recipient Civil War General William M. Wherry, hero and Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at the Battle of Wilson's Creek For: "Displayed conspicuous coolness and heroism in rallying troops that were recoiling under heavy fire" Signed Document

The document states that upon occasion of the arrival of the President and suite on Wednesday the 12th instant the US Military Academy Detachment of Cavalry and Company E, Battalion of Engineers will act as an escort of honor from the Dock to he Commanding Generals quarters

Four More paragraphs of orders follow

The document is signed By Command of Major General (John) Schofield, who was also a recipient of the Medal of Honor ""for conspicuous gallantry at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, August 10, 1861."

This is an excerpt The Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes, Nineteenth President of the United States, Chapter XXXVI, page 488, of the President's activities on the day covered by this document:

June 14, 1878. - Left the evening of the 11th for West Point
to witness the graduating exercises. Had a most delightful sail
up the Hudson on the government quartermaster boat under
Captain ----. A lovely visit at West Point, 12th and 13th,
and returned the afternoon of the 13th down the Hudson in
[the] same boat.

The Wm. M. Wherry signature is bold and clear. The Special Orders USMA letterhead document measures 8 by 10 inches.

There is stitching and residue down the left hand edge affecting the front and back of the letter which displays some minor foxing from age.  The overall condition is near excellent and it is very presentable for framing.

This order was established in October 1968 and bestowed for military gallantry in combat.  It was supposed to be roughly equivalent to the US Combat Infantry Badge.  Only 69 of these were awarded to a (then classified) advanced combat unit.

The condition is mint. The attachment nuts are present.

Here is a close-up view of the signature. It is accompanied by an original numbered Certificate of Authenticity hand signed in 1983 by Colonel Millett.

It measures 32mm wide and 29mm high overall (1-1/4 by 1-1/8 inches).

This order was established in October 1968 and bestowed to qualified commandos.  It was supposed to be roughly equivalent to the US Ranger tab.  Only 300 of these were awarded to a (then classified) advanced commando unit.

The condition is mint. The attachments are simple clutch pins.

Here is a close-up view of the signature. It is accompanied by an original numbered Certificate of Authenticity hand signed in 1983 by Colonel Millett.

It measures 48mm wide and 36mm high overall (1-3/4 by 1-3/8 inches).

Boxing Champion Jack Dempsey Signed and Dated Hotel Martin, Utica N.Y. engraved letterhead stationery.

A close-up of the lead pencil signed and dated Nov. 5, 38 signature is shown here.

The condition of the stationery is generally near good, with some moderate staining and discoloration from age, as shown.

The letter measures approximately 6 by 9 inches.