Lot 237

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Description:

PRESIDENTIAL PRESENTATION COPY OF HITLER''S MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, POLITICAL TESTAMENT, AND PRIVATE WILL
An excessively rare contemporary presentation album containing full-size photo reproductions of Adolf Hitler''s political testament, his certificate of marriage and his private will, along related correspondence, full translations, and a copy of the original presentation letter sent by Secretary of State Robert Patterson to President Harry Truman on March 19, 1946 when Patterson presented the documents to Truman for review. This album, 12" x 14 1/2", is bound in pebbled black leather with the cover bearing a gilt German national eagle with swastika, Hitler''s name, and the contents of the album. Within are photographic reproductions on heavy semi-gloss paper of the exact same contents as the original album of these documents recovered in 1946 in Germany. In addition to the aforementioned three documents, there is also a desperate letter from Martin Bormann to Adm. Karl Donitz stating: "Since all or Divisions failed to appear our situation seems beyond hope. The Fuhrer dictated last might the attached political testament...". Secretary of War Robert Patterson''s letter to Truman briefly describes the documents and suggests that they be displayed at the library of Congress. In fine to very fine condition. We can find no other examples of this high-quality presentation anywhere in any auction or bookseller records. The originals of these documents were spirited out of the Chancellery to be delivered to Admiral Doenitz and Field Marshal Ferdinand Schoerner, commander of the Army Group Center in Bohemia. The delivery failed when the war ended and the couriers returned to their homes, hiding the documents nearby. They were soon identified, captured, and the documents were recovered. The Hitler documents went on exhibit at the National Archives on April 26, 1946, less than a year after they had been created in the bunker in Berlin. Clearly an extraordinarily rare publication, possibly unique.

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September 13, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, 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