Description:

Omar Bradley
various, ca. 1950-54
Omar Bradley to Ted Amussen, 3 Signed Letters, Outstanding Provenance
Archive
Omar Nelson Bradley (1893-1981) was a senior officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the five-star rank of General of the Army. He was appointed by President Truman as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1949. Bradley served on active duty continuously from 1911 until his death in 1981 - a total of more than 69 years. His was the longest active duty career in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces. This collection comprises three letters from Bradley to Theodore Amussen, the editor of his memoir, with a reprint of a profile on Bradley from the March 1951 issues of The New Yorker, all detailed below. Provenance: Ex-Timothy Amussen, Alexandria, Virginia, son of Theodore Amussen.

1.) Typed Letter Signed, "Omar Bradley", 1p, on embossed Joint Chiefs of Staff stationery, 7" x 10.25", Washington, D.C., December 27, 1950. Blank verso. Expected mailing folds. Toning at margins with a faint stain at lower left corner. In fine condition and boldly signed.

To Mr. and Mrs. Amussen, in full: "Chet just told me about the new boy who arrived yesterday. I hope that both the baby and mother continue to get along well. He was a fine Christmas present. I certainly do appreciate the help you have given us which enables us to complete the book before the end of the year. I will be seeing you soon, I hope, to talk over some of the details of publications. Mary joins me in very best wishes."

2.) Typed Letter Signed, "Brad", 1p, on embossed Joint Chiefs of Staff stationery, 7" x 10.25", Washington, D.C., August 3, 1953. Blank verso. Date-stamped at top right. Pencil notation at top left. Expected mailing folds and light creases. Overall toning. In fine condition. Stapled at left corner to a carbon copy of typed letter from Theodore Amussen, catching Bradley up on his professional career and inviting Bradley to be the godfather to his new son, Timothy.

Bradley's response, in part: "I am delighted to know that you are so well satisfied with your new position with Rinehart...I too am counting on being Timothy's godfather. We will have to get together and work out some mutually agreeable date...Mrs. Bradley and I start for the West Coast. We plan to settle some place out there but have not decided definitely as yet upon a location. We will just have to forget the fortune the Swamp Buggy Guide Service would have brought us..."

3.) Typed Letter Signed, "Brad", 1p, 7.25" x 10.5", Los Angeles, California, August 27, 1954. Blank verso. Pencil notation beside a paper clip impression at top left. Two closed tears at blank bottom margin. Expected mailing folds and creases. Light toning. In near fine condition.

To Theodore Amussen as VP of Rinehart & Company, in part: "Mary and I very much appreciated the books which you sent us...I have already started on the one concerning Stonewall Jackson. I am sure you are not surprised that I read this one first after our experience together in writing my book...I have always greatly admired Jackson because of the manner in which he handled his troops in the Shenandoah Valley...I understand that Chet is still in Weisbaden [sic], and that he has given up the idea of resigning from the service. I have not heard from him as to why."

4.) Five-Star Schoolmaster by A.J. Liebling, a profile of General Omar Bradley reprinted from the March 3 and 10, 1951 issues of The New Yorker magazine. 5.5" x 8.5" staple-bound softcover booklet has light expected wear and is in fine condition.

Theodore Smith Amussen (1915-1988) was a New York book editor and publisher. He was editor-in-chief at Henry Holt & Company, publisher of Bradley's book, A Soldier's Story (1951). During the publishing of the book, Bradley and Amussen became very close friends. So much so, that Bradley became godfather to Amussen's son, Timothy, as evidenced in our letters.

Chester "Chet" B. Hansen (1917-2012) was an aide-de-camp to General Bradley, as well as a war time diarist. Hansen recorded intimate and historical details in a personal diary as he served with Bradley in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, France, Luxembourg and Germany, and in the planning of the D-Day invasion while stationed in Britain. Hansen used his diary for anecdotal material as he collaborated with Bradley on his memoir. Bradley spoke of Hansen as not just his aide, but "an associate and friend" who provided "invaluable assistance".

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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  • Provenance: Ex-Timothy Amussen, son of Theodore Amussen.
  • Dimensions: 7.25" x 10.5"
  • Medium: Archive

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