Lot 187
Patton, George S (1885-1945) American general and tank commander; considered one of the greatest military leaders in history; known as "Old Blood and Guts." Battlefield free frank as first commander of the U.S. Tank Corps, with black "U.S. Military Postal Express Service/27 Sept 1918" postmark with blue double circle handstamp "A.E.F. Passed as censored" censor's mark. Addressed in Patton's hand to his mother, "Mrs. Geo S Patton, San Gabriel, California, USA" and franked "Lt. Col. G S Patton Jr., A.P.O. 714" in upper left corner; Patton has also signed "G S Patton Jr." across the censor's mark at lower left.
Included is a TLS ("G S Patton Jr."), 1p, 10½"x8", n.p. 1918 Sept. 24. To his mother, with excellent content. In part: "The chap who wrote about my commanding the first tanks in action was right….we have been in once and will be again in a few days. This time we hope to have things a little better arranged and not be in such a hell of a hurry….it will I fancy be a harder affair and the country is poor for the T. Still we can only do our damdest and hope that it will amount to something. This business of actually fighting is fine and the most interesting think I have ever done. But it keeps one moving. One of my best men got his foot shot off today which was hard on him as we are far back but a big one came along and got him….I don't expect to get hit but there is always the chance. However one is too busy to think of it at the time and later it does not matter…." Both items are fine, with normal age toning.
The buyer of these two pieces gets four Patton signatures!
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $4,025 |
