WORLD WAR II BATTLE of SAIPAN & TINIAN ISLANDS PHOTO ALBUM & JAPANESE WAR SOUVENIRS

ABAA-BOSTON-2022. Item #814

Written on the front cover of this photo album is “Saipan-Tinian,” and it documents battles on these Japanese Islands by US Marines during World War II. These fights have been called the "Pacific D-Day." Included are about 125 photos, ephemera, documents and several war souvenirs taken off of Japanese soldiers and/or downed planes. These photos include pre-invasion photos of Saipan in April, 1944 and pre-invasion photos of Iwo Jima beaches. Also shown are tanks and canons on the streets, detonations, wreckage, dead and wounded, et al. There are several larger, secret reconnaissance photos overlooking the operation, including aerial photos of recently hit targets and a topographical map of blockhouses. A few such photos are stamped on verso with “Examined in the Field. Passed by Joint Intelligence”. There are also some studio portraits of Japanese children and Geishas.

There are newspaper clippings throughout that pay homage to the Marines throughout the battle. There are also some examples of Okinawan invasion currency. A letter in German, and other ephemera.

Also included is a 20.25” x 11.75” board with Japanese souvenirs attached. These include a medal, dog tags, identifiers from crashed Japanese aircraft, a Japanese belt buckle; an armband of an army officer in Okinawa, patches, etc.

The album measures 15 1/4” x 11 ½,” the back cover is missing and all of the pages are loose.
Many of the photos are annotated with great detail. Photos vary in size and are held to page with corner tabs with some being glued to the page. Several photos are missing, and some photos are loose.

The album was kept by US Military man who saw action here. If you would like to know his name, please ask.

Price: $1,800.00