Winter 2014 Auction Closing Feb 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2014
Five days before the Allied Forces invaded Normandy on Tuesday, June 6, 1941, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force, signed this typed letter to "The Hon. Andrew Shirley" of the Red Cross and St. John Book Campaign based in London. At the top is the letterhead “Supreme Headquarters ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Office of the Supreme Commander" with the date "1 June, 1944". It reads, "Dear Mr. Shirley: Thank you for your letter. I am only too pleased to help in any way the book cam-paign for the Duke of Gloucester’s Fund. I enclose 'A New American History' which I have autographed. I hope it may be of some help to you. Sincerely, Dwight Eisenhower”. The 6 x 8 inch letter exhibits the usual horizontal folds, but also a couple vertical impressions, one which intersects the bold, black fountain pen signature. However, the signature remains near perfect. The reverse contains an area of additional paper, where the letter might have been removed from a paper backing from previously being framed. This can easily be framed away by the next owner. A tremendous display item from the Allied's Supreme Commander only days before the greatest military expedition in world history.