Description:

Harry S. Truman Signed "Time" Magazine Cover Depicting Atomic Bomb Mushroom Cloud!

A very unusual lot comprised of two items signed by former 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), including a December 31, 1945 "Time" magazine cover depicting the Atomic Bomb mushroom cloud signed by Truman at lower right. The lot also includes a typed letter signed by Truman, and its original transmittal envelope, for a total of three items.

The signed "Time" cover is a rare instance when Truman signed the actual image of a mushroom cloud created by the Atomic Bomb. This item is especially unique as it is well-documented how infrequently Truman referred to the bomb. In fact, a post-presidential letter signed a few months after he signed this item in 1961, and about the bomb, sold for $237,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2022.

This interesting grouping features:

1. An Air Express Edition front cover of the December 31, 1945 issue of "Time" magazine, Vol. XLVI, No. 27,
featuring a dramatic off-center illustration by Russian-American artist Boris Artzybasheff of the mushroom cloud generated by the detonation of the Atomic Bomb, signed and dated by Truman as "Harry S Truman / 7-3-61" at lower right. The cover has been neatly trimmed and excised from the magazine. Expected wear including flattened folds, isolated chipped edges, and scattered minor foxing. The signed cover measures 7.75" x 10.5." Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication (Parsippany, New Jersey), submission number 319986, dated September 15, 2023.

Artzybasheff's dramatic cover depicts a portrait of Truman, selected as "Man of the Year" of 1945, flanking the unmistakable silhouette of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki mushroom clouds, pierced by God's vengeful fist brandishing a lightning bolt. The cover story, which appeared in the "National Affairs" section of the magazine, was entitled "The Bomb & The Man." Part of the cover story corresponding to pp. 15-16 is reproduced below for reference only.

"That one thing, the greatest of all 1945's great events, was the atom bomb… What the world would best remember of 1945 was the deadly mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Here were the force, the threat, the promise of the future. In their giant shadows, 45,000 feet tall, all men were pygmies…

The Man at Line's End. It was no scientist who, by historic accident, somewhat unwittingly, somewhat against his own will, became more than any other man responsible for the bomb, its use in 1945 and its future. It was an ordinary, uncurious man without any pretensions to scientific knowledge, without many pretensions of any kind, a man of average size and weight, wearing bifocal glasses, fond of plain food, whiskey-&-water and lodge meetings. It was Harry Truman, 32nd President of the U.S…"

2.-3. A 1p typed letter signed by Truman as "Harry S Truman" at center. September 24, 1959. [Independence, Missouri.] On a leaf of watermarked stationery with "Harry S. Truman / Independence, Missouri" letterhead. Truman writes to a Venezuelan autograph seeker. Expected wear including flattened folds and partially rusted paper clip impressions along the top edge. Else near fine. 7.25" x 10.5." Accompanied by the original transmittal manila envelope bearing a "Harry S. Truman / Independence, MO" printed return address, as well as a printed "Harry S Truman" free frank. Expected weathering including adhesive remnants, else very good.

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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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000