The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 1050:
Description
This is a phenomenal collection of eight signed aviation prints of various World War II aircraft, including the Supermarine Spitfire and the Vought F4U Corsair. The true value lies in the accompanying letters and notes, personally signed by the legendary Canadian-American ace Colonel Donald J. M. Blakeslee (15.5 victories). Blakeslee, who flew with the RAF 401 Sqdn (1 victory) and the Eagle Sqdn #133 (3 victories) from May 1941 to September 1942, was one of the most respected and successful fighter group commanders in the U.S. Army Air Forces during the war.
The collection includes a friendly, handwritten note dated 2 Nov ’94 from Blakeslee to “John,” thanking him for kind words and making a comment about not mentioning victories—a nod to his humble nature. Also included is a typed letter from Duane Roda to Col. Blakeslee (with an address in Florida) requesting his signature on the prints, which Blakeslee signed with “Good collection. Cheers!!” The included small yellow note further details Blakeslee’s victory count and squadrons flown. The prints themselves are clean black-and-white stipple/line art on white paper and appear to be in excellent condition, with minor edge wear on a few sheets from handling. The handwritten letters and notes show natural aging but are well-preserved. Part of the John Bannister Collection. H 11″, W 17″. See photos.
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