Description:

SATIRICAL KAISER WILHELM'S 'LAST WILL'
Satirical imprint of 'Kaiser Wilhelm's Last Will and Testament', 2pp. 4to., Cincinnati, ca. 1918. Headed 'The Pirate's Despair', it reads, in small part: '...The Pirate's Despair Realizing that the End is Near, He Makes his Will (From Our Special Correspondent in Berlin.) It is rumored in Germany that the Emperor now realizes that his number is up, and is accordingly making his Will, revoking all Wills made heretofore...This is the Last Will and Testament of me, Wilhelm, the superswanker and ruler of the sausage-eaters, recognizing that I am fairly up against it, and expecting to meet with a violent death at any minute at the hands of the brave Sammies, hereby make my last Will and Testament...I give and bequeath to France the territories of Alsace and Lorraine (as this is only a case of stolen property; I don't deserve any credit for it. and am not likely to get it, either)...To Russia I give Turkey, for the Czar's Christmas Dinner...To Belgium I should like to give all the thick ears, black eyes and broken noses that she presented me with when I politely trespassed on her territory...To your UNCLE SAM 1 give all my Dreadnaughts, Submarines, Torpedo Boat Destroyers and fleet of Funkers generally, what's left of them. He's bound to have them in the end, so this is only anticipating events...To John Bull I give what's left of my Army, as his General Haig seems so handy at turning my men into sausage-meat...To Sir Ernest Shackleton I leave the Pole; I've been up it so long that I regard it as my own property. (Signed) H. I. M. WILHELM Lord of the Land, Sea and Air. Not forgetting the sausages and Lager Beer Signed ...in the presence of us, his Ministers and Keepers...BARON VON SAUERKRAUT GRAF VON MUNICHLAGER BEER...' Folds, else fine. Much rarer than 'Hitler's Last Will' which would follow a few decades hence.

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March 27, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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