Description:

A great content teletype from the end of World War II, an original coded teletype printout bearing an order from Supreme Commander Douglas MacArthur to the Government of Japan, sent just weeks before the Instrument of Surrender was signed. This teletype, 31 x 8.5 in., dated in August 1945, was sent from the U.S. War Department to both the Chinese army base in Chungking and to Ft. Shafter, Hawaii - the headquarters of the U.S. Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas and the place of origin of this message. MacArthur's message reads, in small part: 'PERSUANT TO THE ACCEPATANCE [sic] OF THE TERMS OF SURRENDER...THE SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS HEREBY DIRECTS THE IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES...THE SUPREME COMMANDER...IS TO BE NOTIFIED AT ONCE OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE AND HOUR BY SUCH CESSATION...WHEREUPON ALLIED FORCES WILL BE DIRECTED TO CEASE HOSTILITIES...THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ALLIED POWERS FURTHER DIRECTS THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT TO SEND TO HIS HEADQUARTERS AT MANILA CMA ('comma') PHILLIPINE ISLANDS CMA A COMPETENT REPRESENTATIVS [sic] EMPOWERED TO RECEIVE IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN, THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT AND THE JAPANESE IMPERIEL [sic] GENERAL HEADQUARTERS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE TERMS OF SURRENDER PD ['period'] THE ABOVE REPRESENTATIVE WILL PRESENT TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS UPON HIS ARRIVAL A DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATED BY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN CMA EMPOWERING HIM TO RECEIVE THE REQUIRE MENTS OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS...' Later sections of the teletype also detail travel arrangements of the representatives. After being received, these teletypes were later decoded and mimeographed for further distribution; a three-page mimeograph of this teletype is included in this lot. Very good condition. This lot was taken from a large number of teletypes brought home by Charles F. Hoff, a 'cryptographic message center officer' stationed at Headquarters Army Forces Middle Pacific, charged with sending and receiving messages from Washington to the Pacific, as well as coding and decoding classified documents. Consigned by a direct linear descendant, and sold with a photocopy of a letter of provenance delivered from our consigner to our offices. Given that this announcement was only sent to two places, it is likely that only one other example was ever created.

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May 22, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000