Lot 753

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Description:

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
(1882 - 1945) Thirty-second President of the United States who instituted the "New Deal" programs and who led the United States through most of World War II. Very rare (and ironic) signed presentation American Navy propaganda book given to the unsympathetic president of Paraguay shortly before Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war. The book "En Guardia para la Defensa de las Americas - Edition de la Marina de Guerra"" ("On Guard for the Defense of the Americas - Navy Edition"), 54pp., 9 1/2" x 12 1/2", was published by the Office of the Coordinator of Commercial and Cultural Affairs of the Americas, April, 1941, heavily illustrated in color and black and white. This copy has specially prepared full black leather covers with gilt title, with the front flyleaf bearing a calligraphic inscription: "To His Excellency General Higinio Morinigo President of the Republic of Paraguay". Beneath, Roosevelt has added a brilliant 5 1/2" long signature to which he adds an emphatic underline. The printed publication, entirely in Spanish, bears on its cover a dramatic artist's depiction of a battleship plowing through heavy seas. The contents are a mix of propaganda showing the might of the U.S. Navy and its interest in the defense of North and South America, along with human interest Navy-related stories. Throughout , there are constant references to "...the friends of the United States...in the New World". Many veterans of the war in the Pacific are pictured, including the sister battleships MISSISSIPPI and IDAHO, the NORTH CAROLINA, the submarine SARGO, aircraft carrier RANGER, and cruiser BOISE, with other images including destroyers, the Pensacola Air Station, and various naval aircraft. Very good. Accompanied by a carbon copy of the letter of transmittal from the Dept. of State to the American Ambassador to Paraguay, Aug. 22, 1941, sending the book. Despite the fact that Paraguay received a great deal of American aid throughout the war years, Morínigo headed a pro-Axis regime. Large numbers of Paraguayan military officers and government officials were openly sympathetic to the Axis. Among these officials was the national police chief, who named his son Adolfo Hirohito(!!). Police cadets wore swastikas and Italian insignia on their uniforms. America's entry into the war gave the U.S. the leverage it needed to force Morínigo to commit himself publicly to the Allied cause, although he did not declare war against Germany until February 1945.

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December 9, 2011 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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