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Up for sale or buy-it-now is a fascinating, historically rich estate lot of personal World War II memorabilia belonging to Lt. Robert E. Eckman (I Co, 159th Infantry Regiment, APO 726). This unique archive offers a deeply personal glimpse into the life, humor, and service of a WWII officer in 1944.
What is Included in This Lot:
1. Hand-Illustrated WWII Air Mail Covers (Envelopes, no letters)): A stack of original 1944 Air Mail envelopes sent from Lt. Eckman via Army Postal Service 726 to his wife, Mrs. Robert Eckman, in Modesto, California. Multiple covers feature incredible, hand-drawn trench art cartoon illustrations on the front (including a skier and a winter character), showcasing the officer's artistic talent and humor. Postmarks are clearly visible from March 1944.
2. Five (5) Original Military Ribbon Bars: An impressive collection of Lt. Eckman's uniform ribbon bars featuring multiple service and campaign awards. Includes the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with multiple stars, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal with oak leaf clusters, WWII Victory Ribbon, and a Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Includes original mounting pins.
3. Engraved Victorville Bombardier Squadron Plate: A square, engraved metal printing or commemorative plate from the Victorville, California Bombardier Training Squadron (520th). It features a stylized character inside a large "V" for victory with wings.
4. Engraved Metal Poem Plate ("Tale Of A Thirsty G.I."): A rectangular metal plate beautifully etched with a humorous wartime poem reflecting on the dry state of a soldier's pockets and the search for a beer before pay day.
Condition:
All items are in authentic, vintage, as-found military estate condition. Envelopes show expected toning, edge wear, and open folds from period handling. Ribbon bars show minor age-related fading and patina to the metal mounts. Metal plates show some surface scuffs and handling marks consistent with age, but all text and engravings remain sharp and completely legible. Please review the high-resolution photos for exact condition details.
This is a premier estate collection perfect for advanced WWII military collectors, postal history enthusiasts, or trench art specialists.
