Lot 397

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Description:


MARGARET SLOAN COLT (1898 - 1986) Deputy Commissioner of the American Red Cross in London during World War II, who began serving with the American Red Cross during the First World War, and who visited France and the Western Front in October 1944. Throughout the course of the war, Colt met and dined with countless prominent individuals, including General Dwight Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, George Patton, Omar Bradley, Eleanor Roosevelt, numerous deposed kings and queens, and many more. Her husband, Samuel Sloan Colt, was the grandson of the inventor of the Colt .45, and served in both World Wars, including in the Pacific through World War II. Exhaustive collection of hundreds, if not thousands, of letters, photographs, and ephemeral items collected or written by Colt throughout the war years. Includes: Hardcover scrapbook, 11.25 x 14.75 in., bearing at least 110 pages, affixed with hundreds of letters addressed to Colt, newspaper clippings, original and commercial photographs, etc., notably including: a classified map of American Red Cross activities in Great Britain, dated Nov. 16, 1942; her typed account of her visit to the Western Front; letters of congratulations after her appointment to Deputy Commissioner; her letter of resignation from the American Red Cross; her American Red Cross Certificate of Exceptional Service; a St. Paul's Cathedral program from Franklin D. Roosevelt's funeral; an original photograph of Colt with Gen. Omar Bradley; 'American Red Cross, European Theatre of Operation' letterheads showing towed planes; at least three signed items by Franklin D. Roosevelt's affiliate BASIL O'CONNOR, including a signed business card, a T.L.S. on Red Cross letterhead, and an S.P. of O'Connor and Colt dining together; a 12th Army Group Thanksgiving menu signed by OMAR BRADLEY and members of his staff; two signed items from former Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom JOHN WINANT; at least three signed items from General JOHN C. H. LEE; a T.L.S. from Chief of Naval Operations HAROLD STARK; an A.L.S. from actress and singer FRANCES DAY; a signed card by Assistant Secretary of Defense and accused communist ANNA M. ROSENBERG, as well as six members of the French noble 'Polignac' family; and quite possibly more notable signatures. WITH: Two binders containing at least 20-30 of Colt's handwritten letters from July to December 1944, many 6-10pp., with providing personal updates, Red Cross-related news, and war updates. Notable passages include: '...one of those buzz bombs got me out of bed at 4.45 this morning, it roared over so low...We seem to have run into the heaviest fighting since D-Day...the Russian front gallops on, and the slight news which leaks out from Germany is hopeful...We went to General Lee's [headquarters] and General Hawley was there...Went to church with Lady Astor at 6.30 then back to dinner with Lord Astor and...a brilliant young major with Eisenhower's staff...' Much more content, many discussing the prominent dinners she had attended. Some passages have been cut out of some letters as a censorship measure. Typed transcripts from Colt's 1943 letters are also included in this lot, though the original letters are unfortunately absent. WITH: her travel orders, some unissued certificates, as well as some unsent and mostly unsigned letters addressed to the British Ministry of Information, the Chairman of the British Red Cross, and the Chairman of the Woman's Voluntary Services for Civil Defense. Another newsletter contains her account of her service, including her time in London during D-Day and her trip to the Front, in part: 'In October Mrs. Colt went over to France...saw generals Eisenhower, Patten [sic] and Bradley and they all praised the work of the girls. General Bradley complained a little because the girls never visited him - he was too far back from the front lines...' An undated partial letter, also contained within the lot, describes her meetings with Eleanor Roosevelt, in part: 'one well-aimed bomb would have knocked out the whole Lend Lease, American Embassy, and High Command...among those at dinner were General Eisenhower, General Spaats [sic], General Harthe...Mrs. Roosevelt of course...we had a raid this morning...I suppose they're after Mrs. Roosevelt, but I doubt if they ever catch her.' WITH: Partial transcript of her postwar speech regarding Japanese society, as well as an eight-page typed transcript of her post-VJ Day speech, to which she adds numerous edits in ink, indicating its use on the podium. Each bears great content. WITH: World War I-era photo album with 119 original b/w images, most personal images, yet with some routine military-related photographs, including a full-length portrait image of Sloan in a World War I-era Red Cross uniform and a full-length portrait of her husband in a military uniform, each marked 'Apr. 1919.' Sold with several full-color portrait photographs, her Red Cross Service pin, her American Red Cross lapel pin, a blue ribbon bar marked with a gilt 'V', and a glass negative, 4.75 x 6.5 in., showing Colt in her Red Cross uniform. An exhaustive grouping, filled with great content.

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October 28, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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