Need some advice from military historians

[JAD_333]

Today while cleaning out an attic in an old house today, I came across a box of WWII era manuals that belonged to an ex-OSS intelligence officer, now deceased. As far as I can tell, it was sent from SFran to Virginia in the early 195s and has sat in the attic since then. A few mice nibbles are along the edges of the loose materials. Everything else is in very good condition.

Altogether there are about 70 manuals and books. About a third of them were published by the British War Office; the rest by the US Army and Army intel for the use of intelligence officers. Quite a few of the manuals are about German order of battle, weaponry, organization, insignia, etc. There are 2 on the Italian army's order of battle. Two books marked "Secret" contain maps of the European theater; they were published by the Brit War Office and are pristine with extremely fine color printing.

Question is what is the value of this material? Who should get it: school, museum, or archive, or should it go to private persons with a real interest in WWII topics? I'd like to see folks get some use/pleasure out of this stuff.

Here are some pictures. The officer's name is blotted out.

[JAD_333]

more pictures of WWII manuals

More pictures:

[JAD_333]

more pictures of WWII manuals

More pictures:

[JAD_333]

more pictures of WWII manuals

More pictures...if anyone wants more pictures of contents, I'll be happy to post them. Whatever thoughts you might have would be appreciated. Maybe it's all just junk.

[Stitch]

Amazing find, JAD! That stuff is PRICELESS! Since you are already (I assume) in VA, I would contact Langley; I think they have a division that specializes in that kind of stuff. Personnaly, I would like to see it all stay together as a collection, not parcelled out among private collectors and/or institutions. Good luck!

[JAD_333]

Stitch:

My guess is Langley has it all tucked away in their archives. It might be good to give it to a small military museum, if one exists. I agree with you that it should stay together. Thanks for the advice. :)

[zraver]

your sitting on a lot of money

World War II Auctions Militaria Memorabilia Collectibles

[Parihaka]

Her indoors has a Masters in Museum Studies from Leicester University and also works for an auction house. If money is not an issue she'd recommend offering it to the museums such as the British Imperial War Museum. They may well already have copies and most likely select stuff they don't have or have but poor quality. As for the rest they will recommend the best auction houses or on-line sales, as well as notifying known collectors on the owners behalf.
If money is an issue, on-line auctions with a long expiry date so collectors have the best opportunity to find out about them.

[Tarek Morgen]

was I the only one who though "Gimme!"?

[Parihaka]

I'd also add that if on-line auction house, then not all at once but spaced out over several months and hint at what is to come.

[Parihaka]

was I the only one who though "Gimme!"?

:))

I want these

"maps of the European theater; they were published by the Brit War Office and are pristine with extremely fine color printing."

I and some others of my aquaintence would love them with great lovelyness.

[Parihaka]

Jad, a question. The aformentioned "maps of the European theater; they were published by the Brit War Office and are pristine with extremely fine color printing." Are they definitely prints rather than hand drawn and what is the date if any?

[dave lukins]

The one's marked Secret may have to be officially declassified so you should get Military advice about them before ..."putting them on eBay and make a small fortune":))

[JAD_333]

Jad, a question. The aformentioned "maps of the European theater; they were published by the Brit War Office and are pristine with extremely fine color printing." Are they definitely prints rather than hand drawn and what is the date if any?

Pari:

They are prints. They were printed by a London printing house for the War Office. Some maps fold out. There could not have been many copies because the inner mounting of some of the sheets were hand mounted. The quality is very high.

I'll keep your suggestion of museum in mind. The problem is big museums have a wealth of documents not always easy to get at, but on the other hand they would keep them dry and safe. What do you think of finding a serious collector/researcher/historian who could make good use of the stuff?

[Shek]

Let me know if you'd like me to contact the Deputy Department Head of the History Department at USMA to see if they'd have an interest.