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Rare Historic Set of Three SURVIVOR SIGNED Photographs of the Mt. Suribachi Flag

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Rare Historic Set of Three SURVIVOR SIGNED Photographs of the Mt. Suribachi Flag
Autographs
Three Signed Photographs of the Three Survivors of the Historic Second U.S. Flag Raising Atop Mount Suribachi
(Flag Raising Atop Mount Suribachi) c. May 1945 WW II, Set of Three Signed Black & White Photographs of the only Three “Survivors” of the Second Flag Raising Atop Mount Suribachi.
c. May 1945 WW II, Set of Three Signed Black & White Photographs of the only Three “Survivors” of the Second Flag Raising Atop Mount Suribachi; Ira H. Hayes, John H. Bradley and R.A. Gagnon, Choice Extremely Fine. Each black & white photograph measures 8” x 10” and depicts the soldier holding the flag he helped hoist atop Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. Each has signed in ink on the image: “Ira H. Hayes Pfc, U.S.M.C.,” “John H. Bradley Ph.M 2/C” and “Pfc. R.A. Gagnon.”

After the American Flag was planted atop Mount Suribachi by other soldiers earlier in the day, it was decided that another larger American Flag should be planted upon the site. It was this Second Flag raising that was captured on film by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, who won a Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1945. That film and image came to be regarded in the United States as one of the most significant and recognizable images of the entire war; now possibly the most reproduced photograph of all time. An Exceedingly Rare Original Signed Set. (3 items).

After Franklin D. Roosevelt continued to see the Associated Press Photograph in newspapers across the country, he asked to have the image used on Posters for the new 7th Bond Tour and he then issued a Presidential Order: “Transfer immediately by air to Washington, D.C. the 6 men who appear in the Rosenthal photograph of flag raising on Mt. Suribachi.” What F.D.R. didn’t know was that three of those six soldiers had died at Iwo Jima: Sergeant Michael Strank, Corporal Harlon Block and Private First Class Franklin Sousley. Per Roosevelt’s orders, the Surviving Three Soldiers; Gagnon, Hayes and Bradley, were assigned to temporary duty in Washington, D.C. for appearances in connection with the 7th War Bond Drive. On May 14, 1945 the bond campaign officially began. As the three toured the nation, they brought with them the original tattered American Flag they helped raise just three months earlier. These Three historic WW II Signed Photographs were taken during that very WW II War Bond drive. Each Photograph is nice yet exhibits slight rippling at the upper and lower edges which would be easily pressed flat when matted and framed for display. An outstanding, exceedingly rare and historic opportunity!