(World War II)

Documents Pertaining to the Japanese Surrender September 2, 1945 [binding title]. [Manila: Bureau of Printing, for the United States Army, September 1945]

Broadsheets (23 5/8 x 17 1/2 in.; 602 x 444 mm). 5 leaves with 12 mounted photographic facsimiles of documents and translations of the documents. Original textured red morocco gilt over beveled boards, front cover gilt with border frame, title, and supralibros Major General Hugh J. Casey, gray textured endpapers. Original gray board box; box a bit scuffed.

Descended in the family of the original recipient, Major General Hugh J. Casey (sold, Sotheby's New York, 11 December 2009, lot 275)

One of just twenty official copies of the Instrument of Surrender signed in Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945, with copies of three related dcouments: the Emperor's Proclamation of Surrender, the Accreditation of Mr. Mamoru Shigemitsu (Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs), and the Accreditation of General Umezu (Chief of the General Staff of the Japanese Imperial Army).

The treaty ending the war in the Pacific was signed aboard the battleship Missouri by representatives of nine Allied nations (the United States, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand) and by representatives of the Emperor of Japan. Only two original copies were signed, with the United States and Japan each retaining a copy.

Shortly afterwards, the State Department directed General Douglas MacArthur, who had accepted (but not signed) the United States copy of the Surrender to have facsimile copies made for the nine signatories (Admiral Chester Nimitz had signed for the United States). MacArthur had facsimiles of the three related documents made as well and had the Philippines Bureau of Printing, working under the direction of the G-2 section of his staff, produce eleven additional copies for distribution to his staff. Of the total edition of twenty copies, the nine requested by the State Department were bound in blue caribou leather, and the eleven requested by MacArthur were bound in red.

MacArthur gave this copy to his chief engineer, Major General Hugh J. Casey. Only two other copies of this official edition have been sold at auction, those presented by MacArthur to Major Norman Coliver (Christie's, 8 November 1996, lot 201) and to Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland (Sotheby's New York, 18 June 2010, lot 95).