Description:

Churchill Winston

Churchill, Roosevelt & Stalin: The Big 3 at Yalta!

 

This not-to-be-missed World War II lot includes two incredible pieces: the first a currency note signed by Big Three members Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston S. Churchill, and Joseph Stalin at the February 1945 Yalta Conference; and the second a period photograph signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt and others at Honolulu, Hawaii in July 1944. These two pieces were sold at R.M. Smythe (New York, New York) in November 2001 as part of a 3-part lot; one low-value item has since been removed from the current offering. Accompanied by a sizable and significant file of provenance relating to Dr. Howard G. Bruenn (1905-1995), President Roosevelt's cardiologist and personal physician, who received the aforementioned items as gifts.

 

The lot is comprised of:

 

1. Russian one ruble note signed by British premier Winston S. Churchill (1874-1965) as "WS Churchill" along the white margin at top left; signed by 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) as "Franklin D Roosevelt" along the white margin at top right; and signed by Soviet premier Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) as "J. Stalin" in Cyrillic lettering along a vertical orientation at center. Signed sometime during the Yalta Conference (February 4-11, 1945) at Yalta in the Crimea, with Dr. Bruenn's identifying notation of "Yalta - Feb. 1945" found inscribed vertically along the left margin. The ruble note, with a Lenin vignette at right, bears serial number 918299 and was printed in 1937. A decorative geometric pattern is found verso. Stalin's signature is a little light, possibly due to inferior ink quality. Else near fine. 6.25" x 3.125".

 

The Yalta Conference united three of the world's most powerful leaders, who then decided the fate of a neutralized Germany and war-recovering Western Europe. The outcome of the conference--which advantaged the Soviet Union in both Europe and Asia -- has been debated by historians and political commentators. Much has been written about the possibility that Roosevelt's failing heath contributed to the other Allies' weakened bargaining position. Indeed, Roosevelt would be dead no more than two months later.

 

2. A matte black and white period photograph signed by 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and five other individuals. Roosevelt's signature appears as "Franklin D Roosevelt" at top right. Also signed, left to right, by: Roosevelt's physician Ross T. McIntire, as "Ross T. McIntire"; Admiral Wilson Brown as "Wilson Brown"; General Edwin M. Watson as "Pa Watson"; Admiral William D. Leahy as "William D Leahy"; and presidential speechwriter Samuel I. Rosenman as "Samuel I. Rosenman". Dr. Gruenn is pictured second from right in the back row. Mounted on a cream mat inscribed "Honolulu / July - 1944". Roosevelt's signature is a little light, and three of the five additional signatures appear on a darker background. Else near fine. The photo measures 9.875" x 8". The mat front is detached from the backing, with isolated water stains and age-toning. Else very good. The overall mat size measures 12.5" x 11".

 

President Roosevelt visited Pearl Harbor and met with American military leaders during his July 1944 trip to Hawaii. The photograph was taken aboard the U.S.S. Baltimore on July 26, 1944.

 

Dr. Bruenn was the first physician to correctly diagnose Roosevelt's grave heart condition in early 1944, and thereafter, he was made Roosevelt's personal physician. He attended Roosevelt at the White House and also on trips. In this manner, Dr. Bruenn was present at the Yalta Conference, and at Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. Bruenn witnessed Roosevelt's death at Warm Springs, Georgia on April 12, 1945 from a fatal stroke and recorded his last words. He retired from medical practice in 1975.

 

The extensive provenance includes:

 

- Select photocopies of published material relating to Dr. Howard G. Bruenn (1905-1995). The photocopies are from Robert H. Ferrell, The Dying President: Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1944-1945 (Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1998); and an interview published in the March-April 1990 issue of Navy Medicine entitled "The President's Cardiologist".

 

- Correspondence exchanged between James H. Bruenn (Dr. Howard G. Bruenn's son) and representatives from R.M. Smythe & Company (New York, New York) in August 2001 preceding the November 2001 auction

 

- R.M. Smythe catalog entry from the November 2001 sale featuring these two pieces as part of Lot 447, "World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston S. Churchill and Joseph Stalin"

 

- Auction comps from Christie's and R.M. Smythe from the late 1990s-early 2000s recording estimates and auction results of similar signed items

 

- Various photocopies and black and white reprints

 

An exceptional World War II collectible featuring autographs from The Big Three!

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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