Five Western Front Maps Owned By Col. William Donovan

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Raynor's Spring Americana Auction Prt 2

By Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions

Mar 1, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-03-01 10:00:00 2026-03-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Raynor's Spring Americana Auction Prt 2 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/raynors-historical-auctions/raynors-spring-americana-auction-prt-2-22416
Fascinating Americana Auction offering item in all periods of American history., from colonial through WWII. The items are offered as Autographs, Broadsides, Civil Wat Relics, Civil War Diaries, Confederate items. Political, Presidential, 20th Century Israel, Early Sports. Raynor's Historical Collectible Auctions bob@hcaauctions.com

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• Lot Description
  WILLIAM J. DONOVAN (1883-1959) 'Wild Bill', American brigadier general chosen by Roosevelt to head the O.S.S. (precursor to the C.I.A.). Donovan planted over 16,000 people behind enemy lines and developed elaborate plans to subvert Axis military operations. During World War I, Donovan served as colonel of the U.S. 165th Regiment, originally the famous 69th New York Infantry 'Fighting Irish'. The regiment would distinguish itself at the Second Battle of the Marne, the Ourcq River during the Aisne-Marne Offensive, and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Donovan himself would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in mid-October, 1918. Fine lot of five maps used by Donovan, showing various locales on the Western Front through which the 165th passed and fought, including: 17.25 x 13 in. French map produced in the field by the hectograph, or gelatin duplicator process, a 1:20,000 scale showing the positions of ‘Garnisons de Surete' (‘Security Garrisons') in the vicinity of Fort St. Hilaire, part of Ferdinand Foch's ‘defense in depth' strategy to repel the German Champagne-Marne Offensive during the Second Battle of the Marne, July 14-18, 1918. With a second half-sheet of the same map, annotated in black ink to show trench lines and woods. Both show tears and chips to the edges, with a large vertical split to the first and the right half of the sheet missing from the second. WITH: a commercial 1:200,000-scale map of the environs of Chalons, including the city of Reims and the commune of Fismes, near the 165th's crossing of the Ourcq River. Bears the pencil notation: ‘Reg. Hq. 165 Inf.' at top right, with an additional pencil notation indicating the commune of Breuvery at bottom. Shows folds, else very good. WITH: a map of the environs of Sarrebourg, 29 x 21 in., signed ‘Capt John P. Hurley Co K 165 Inf.' in black ink along the left edge. Shows folds, else very good. WITH: commercial 1:200,000 scale map, 26.75 x 21 in., showing the environs of the city of Strasbourg, with Germany to the east. Shows a 17 in. split along the top edge, else very good. WITH: 1:80,000-scale map, 35 x 24 in., showing the environs of the city of Metz, marked at bottom right as being produced by the ‘Base Printing Plant, 29th Engineers, U.S. Army', and dated 1918. Shows folds with some internal and edge splits thereto, with additional small chips and tears to the edges, else very good. Five pieces.
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