Description:

AMERICAN FIELD-PRINTED MAPS OF GERMANY, OWNED BY COL. WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (3)
WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. During World War I, Donovan served as colonel of the U.S. 165th Regiment, originally the famous 69th New York Infantry 'Fighting Irish'. The regiment would distinguish itself at the Second Battle of the Marne, the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan himself would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in mid-October, 1918. Fine group of three war-date maps, each 1:50,000-scale and measuring 33 x 28.25 in., two depicting the environs of the town of Mayen and one depicting Cochem, both in Western Germany. All three maps are marked at bottom right: ‘Printed at Base Printing Plant, 29th Engineers [Battalion], U.S. Army 1918', and all feature an exhaustive key along the bottom edge showing numerous potential landmarks and points of interest. It is likely that these maps were produced in anticipation of an Allied offensive into Germany that never came to fruition before the fighting was abruptly brought to a halt by the Armistice. Each paper map is backed with canvas, all three bearing interesting pencil notations: one Mayen map reads ‘Marne-Salient 1918' and ‘Ourcq', while the second is marked ‘Champagne'. Most interestingly, the verso of the Cochem map bears the pencil notation ‘St. Mihiel 1918', as well as a second struck-through inscription in orange indelible pencil: ‘Picture Plate of [165th Inf. Regt. Chaplain] Father [Francis P.] Duffy and Col. Donovan'. All three inscriptions reference battles in which the 165th saw heavy combat. The ‘Champagne' map of Mayen shows a small hole near center, while all three show folds and some soiling, still in very good condition. These maps, along with other maps and documents, was contained within two of Donovan's footlockers purchased by our consignor and previously sold by us.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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