December 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, December 10th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2020
Original draft of the World War II Japanese Instrument of Surrender, from 6 September 1945 aboard the HMS Glory in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. After the first Japanese surrender on 2 September aboard the USS Missouri, Japanese forces in the Pacific fell in a cascade of surrenders, with this one in Rabaul signed by General Hitoshi Imamura and Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, accepting defeat to Australian General Vernon Sturdee, who also signed. It was General Sturdee who captured Papua New Guinea for the Allies earlier in 1945. An interesting period newspaper clipping accompanies the lot, titled ''Japs Nearly Came to Blows Aboard 'Glory''', describing how neither Imamura nor Kusaka wanted to be responsible for admitting defeat, arguing with each other who and how the document would be signed. This draft copy, with signatures of the three men in another hand, was likely typed by New Zealand seaman Brian G. Taylor, the ship's telegraphist; his hatband from the HMNZS Tasman also accompanies the lot. Draft surrender measures 8'' x 12.5''. Folds, foxing and glued to paper, with small bit of paper loss at bottom. Good condition.
Original Draft of the WWII Japanese Instrument of Surrender From 6 September 1945
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