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117

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Auction Date:2012 May 16 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Seven-piece archive pertaining to the government’s Eyes for the Navy campaign. The centerpiece of the archive is a one-page TLS, signed “Franklin D. Roosevelt” as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, one page, 8 x 10.25, dated December 13, 1917. Letter reads: “Your prompt and patriotic response to the NAVY'S call for binoculars, telescopes, and spy-glasses, is most appreciated. The glasses will be very useful in the prosecution of Naval Operations until victory is won. At the termination of the war, if possible, every effort will be made to return them to you, when it is hoped that you will feel compensated for any evidence of wear, by the knowledge that you have supplied 'Eyes for the NAVY' during a very trying period. On behalf of the NAVY, I wish to thank you most heartily.”

Also included are: Original newspaper article from The New York Times, November 24, 1917, 2.25 x 6.25, headlined "Navy Needs More 'Eyes'/Government Will Tag and Attempt/to Return All Borrowed Glasses." Accompanied by the retained 8.5 x 10.75 unsigned typed carbon on thin paper of the letter Lang sent to Roosevelt; an uncashed check from the Treasurer of the United States, payable for $1.00 to Charles Lang, Washington, D.C., January 25, 1918; a printed certificate, with a facsimile Roosevelt signature, created especially for the Navy's Eyes for the Navy appeal, "issued to C. Lang in recognition of the sacrifice made for the safety of our ships and the assurance of final victory"; a TLS signed, “C. R. Miller," Captain, U.S. Navy/Commanding, of the U.S.S. Cleveland, March 11, 1918. Thank you letter to Charles Lang reads, in part, "There has recently been received on board this ship a pair of low power binoculars No. 512, whose tag shows that they were loaned by you to the Navy Department in response to a recent call for contributions of instruments of this character. These glasses being particularly adapted for night use are always inservice whenever we are cruising…The CLEVELAND is at present assigned to very interesting duty. Although I cannot give you any details about the events in which we participate, a little information about the ship itself may be of interest to you”; a retained two-page unsigned typed carbon of the April 15, 1918 letter Lang sent to Miller, thanking him. In part, "The binoculars, which caused this correspondence, have been used in many interesting races on the sloop yacht 'Banzai' (belonging to my brother) one of the New York 'thirty' designs; and the pair of binoculars first used aboard the sloop yacht Banzai in yacht races and then on the cruiser Cleveland in World War I.” In fine overall condition. A unique opportunity to own binoculars, previously used in yacht races in New York harbor, then used by the Navy aboard a cruiser during World War I with provenance including a letter from FDR!
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