Description:

Iwo Jima



Iwo Jima Commemorative Stamp Block 4x Signed by Flag Raisers John H. Bradley, Ira H. Hayes, and Rene A. Gagnon, and Photographer Joe Rosenthal

 

Single large sheet of Iwo Jima commemorative stamps signed by 4 participants/witnesses of the iconic flag raising!

 

Signed by photographer Joe Rosenthal as "Joe Rosenthal" at upper right; and by 3 of the 6 flag raisers at center: John H. Bradley as "John H. Bradley"; Rene Gagnon as "Rene A. Gagnon"; and Ira H. Hayes as "Ira H. Hayes." The stamp block plate is numbered 23298 and includes 50 green 3-cent stamps. In near fine condition. 10.25" x 9".

 

The stamp reproduced Joe Rosenthal's historic photograph of American soldiers raising the American flag over Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. The United States Postal Service issued this commemorative stamp on July 11, 1945. It was a controversial decision--as the postal service typically avoided honoring living people--but it has proved to be one of the bestselling U.S.P.S. stamps of all time.

 

Iwo Jima, an isolated island in the Japanese archipelago, was the site of a bloody month-long battle during the winter of 1945. Desperate Japanese defenders clashed against American forces eager to secure the island for their island-hopping Pacific supply chain. The Iwo Jima flag raising was of enormous historical importance and symbolic value. It signaled an end to the current brutal fighting, and foretold a quick conclusion to the war.

 

The American flag was actually raised twice during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The first flag raising occurred on February 23, 1945 at 8 AM when a 40-man combat patrol was dispatched to climb up the east slope of Mt. Suribachi to seize the crest. The second flag raising, captured in Rosenthal's Pulitzer prize winning photo, was executed with a larger flag so that it could be seen more easily from surrounding areas.

 

Of the 6 men who participated in the flag raising, 3 were later killed in action. Surviving flag raisers John Bradley (1923-1994), Rene Gagnon (1925-1979), and Ira Hayes (1923-1955) were praised as heroes and later toured the United States promoting war bonds. This stamp block was likely signed sometime during their four-month-long tour. This scarce stamp sheet thus boasts the signatures of all 3 survivors.

 

A huge stamp block depicting one of the most famous moments in American military history, signed by flag raisers Bradley, Gagnon, and Hayes, and by photographer Rosenthal!

 



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