296. BERNARD LAW MONTGOMERY (1887-1976) British Field Marshall who commenced the drive at El Alamein that ultimately drove Rommel from North Africa. Also involved in the invasions of Sicily and France. Excessively rare war-date A.L.S. and an excellent association, 1p. 8vo. on his monogrammed stationary, "HEADQUARTERS 21 ARMY GROUP", Dec. 23, 1944 to his superior, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower! In full: "My dear Ike This is my third, and last, Pamphlet. I enclose you six copies. Yrs ever Monty". Mounted to a sheet from the famous Nathaniel Stein autograph collection, simply framed. Particularly interesting in that it was no secret that Montgomery and Eisenhower despised each other. Of even greater interest is that at the same time this letter was written, Patton's Third Army was being pounded in the Battle of the Bulge, with Bastogne surrounded and completely cut-off. Montgomery had just been given command of two American armies, and was struggling to cut the German northern flank from above. Montgomery was fond of writing pamphlets for those under his command, setting forth various policies and practices he expected. $2,000-3,000