The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 1324:
Description
This is an extraordinary offering: a collection of World War II-era aviation prints, featuring the F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, and Japanese Zero, that have been personally signed by Major Robert E. Galer, USMC, a Medal of Honor recipient and a double-ace from the Guadalcanal campaign. The drawings are artist numbered/marked, and the lot is authenticated by a letter from R. E. Galer himself, dated October 13, 1993, confirming his willingness to sign the pictures and providing his return address in Dallas, Texas. This association with one of the most decorated Marine aviators elevates the value of these aviation prints significantly. Major Galer, who was a combat aviator and ace credited with 13 aerial victories, received the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous heroism while leading Marine Fighting Squadron-224 (VMF-224) at Guadalcanal in 1942. The lot includes the three large-format aircraft prints, a color print of the Medal of Honor, the Major Galer trading card/mini-portrait, and the personal correspondence, all of which are in remarkable, near-pristine condition, showing no significant handling marks, tears, or discoloration. The letter confirms the provenance and the specific signer, making this an extremely desirable historical package for a serious military or aviation collector. The major’s residence was in Dallas, Texas, confirming the letter’s city of origin. This lot’s value is driven by the Major Robert E. Galer, MOH, signature and the association with the aircraft he commanded/flew (Grumman F4F Wildcat was his primary aircraft, but the F6F and SBD are closely related to the Pacific theatre). The items are in very good overall condition, with the paper items showing expected minor creasing or handling wear consistent with their age and mailing, but the signatures and prints themselves are clean and well-preserved. Part of the John Bannister Collection. H 11″, W 17″. See photos.
Share this lot:
