Lot 97

Rare & Unique World War I U. S. Army Books 1917

Estimate: $400 - $800

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$25 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
Included in this lot is a collection of unique and Rare World War I U. S. Army books from 1917, including: "A Manual For Courts-Martial U. S. Army", 1917 corrected to April 15, 1917. This manual was issued 11 days after the United States declared war on Germany during World War I; "Engineer Field Manual Parts I-VII", written in pencil on the front endpaper "Battery D"; and lastly, "The President's War Message Delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress April 2, 1917", during which President Woodrow Wilson called for a declaration of war against Germany. These books were the property of a Capt. M. S. Robb who was assigned to the 337th FA (presumably, field artillery), part of the 337th Infantry Regiment first organized for service in WW I as part of the 85th Division. These books were carried by Capt. Robb to France as evidenced by his pencil inscription on the rear endpaper of his manual for Courts-Martial, "Hotel de la Nievre", as well as bookplate labels on all three books' front endpapers. The town of Nevers located in the French department of Nievre is one of two cities in which the American Expeditionary Forces, particularly the 337th Infantry Regiment, were initially billeted after deployment to France. On the opposite endpaper are pencil inscribed geometric calculations that would have been utilized for calculating artillery targeting. These historic books are a must-have for military, WW I and history buffs!! The books are in amazingly nice condition, considering they evidently were in an active war zone over 100 years ago! The hardcovers are in good overall conditions, very slight wear exhibited. Intact pages have age tanning throughout, no other obvious marring noted. largest manual measures 6"W x 9.5"L x 1"D, smallest is 3.75"W x 6.25"L