According to a notarized affidavit supplied by the consignor the framed items in this lot were from the personal effects of an American Captain (branch unspecified) who served at Luzon as an engineer during the Allied Liberation of the Philippines. Additionally, the affidavit states that the consignor once had more information on both the papers and the prior owner, but they were destroyed or lost during a series of mishaps and miscommunications with members of his household and the original owner passed away before more info could be sought. The documents are installed in a 28 1/2 inch wide and 37 3/4 inch tall frame with a gold painted floral veneer and plain white acid free matting. At the top are two papers, on the right is a hand-written Japanese text and on the left a translation, identifying the text as an order issued on 30 August 1945 to the Japanese Forces still active on Luzon. The order, in short, states that the surrender is imminent (Japan had announced their intention to surrender on the 15th with the occupation of the Home Islands commencing on the 28th), all operations are to be halted and Japanese soldiers are to abide any orders given by Allied commanders, with indications that it was to be air-dropped over areas of the Philippines where they would either be found by hold-outs or by civilians who would then take them to local hold-outs. The bottom document is a copy of the instrument of surrender dated 3 September 1945 and confirming that the Japanese forces led by General Yamashita and Vice Admiral Okochi were surrendering to the American Major General Leavey in following with the main Japanese surrender signed in Tokyo Bay the day before. The entire document is typed with the exception of the exact date and time of the Tokyo Bay surrender being added by hand as well as the signatures of the three officers, which appear to have been executed with a different pen from the date and time addition. The exact origin of this document is unknown, information supplied by the National Archives indicated at least 3 known official copies were signed at the time, though it would not have been out of line for more to have been made for general distribution in the Philippines, transmission to other Allied forces, or for archival purposes.
Excellent frame with a few light chips and scuffs in the veneer. The 30 August order is very good with a small amount of ink transfer from when it was folded in half and the translation in pristine shape. The 3 September surrender document is in very good shape with some mild creasing and some stains at the corners of those creases. An excellent display item from the closing days of the War in the Pacific.
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