Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 226
image_0 image_1 image_2
W.H. Simpson signed envelope, encapsulated PSA/DNA MINT 9
W.H. Simpson signed envelope, encapsulated PSA/DNA MINT 9
image_0 image_1 image_2
Description:

World War II

Handsome William H. Simpson PSA encapsulated envelope from the Headquarters, Ninth United States Army, APO 339, c/o Postmaster, NYC. Signed twice by W.H. Simpson, once above the return address as "W.H. Simpson", and again in the lower left corner as "W.H. Simpson, Lieut. Gen".

A fantastic fresh example of W.H. Simpson's signature on an important Ninth United States Army. Post mark date of  "Dec 18, 1944". Envelope neatly opened along the top edge. Encapsulated PSA/DNA MINT 9.

William H. Simpson, commander of the U.S. Ninth Army, proved to be one of the most effective American generals of World War II. Calm, modest, and utterly dependable, Simpson led the Ninth Army through some of the war’s bloodiest fighting. In a testament to Simpson’s abilities, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, in his book "Crusade in Europe" stated, “If Simpson ever made a mistake as an army commander, it never came to my attention.”

In October 1943, Simpson was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of the Fourth Army. Plans called for the Fourth to be used as a follow-on force after the Normandy landings. In May 1944, Simpson and his staff arrived in England to make final preparations to take his army, now designated the Eighth Army, into combat. To avoid confusion with the British Eighth Army, Simpson’s command was quickly redesignated the Ninth Army.

Simpson’s greatest contribution to the Allied war effort came with his steady performance during the crisis in the Ardennes. He was one of the few Allied generals to quickly understand that the German offensive was more than a spoiling attack. With the assistance of his well-trained staff, Simpson began ordering his units to reorient their fronts. He quickly dispatched his 7th Armored Division to St. Vith in the First Army’s sector. The 7th Armored played an important role at St. Vith and greatly helped in delaying the German advance. By the end of December, four infantry divisions, three armored divisions, and twenty-eight non-divisional units from the Ninth were in the First Army’s sector, fighting to push the Germans back, a feat on par with the more celebrated efforts of Patton’s Third Army. As usual, Simpson’s low key leadership style resulted in little publicity for the Ninth. Historian Russell Weigley described Simpson’s handling of Ardennes crisis as “uncommonly normal.”

After the Battle of the Bulge, Simpson and the Ninth pressed on through Germany and crossed the Rhine on 24 March 1945. The Ninth encircled the Ruhr from the north and linked up with Lieutenant General Courtney Hodge’s First Army on 1 April, trapping 300,000 German soldiers. Elements of the Ninth were also the first U.S. troops to cross the Elbe River on 12 April.

After the V-E Day, Simpson undertook a mission to China in July 1945 before returning stateside to command the Second Army in October. Illness forced him into retirement in November 1946. He was promoted to general on the retired list in July 1954. Simpson died in San Antonio, Texas, on 15 August 1980.

A fantastic example from one of the most successful field commanders in U.S history.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

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