President Truman | Signed photo, inscribed to Clement Attlee, undated

Harry S. Truman, President of the United States

Photographic portrait, inscribed to British Prime Minister Clement Attlee

vintage silverprint depicting Truman at his desk, an American flag visible behind, PHOTOGRAPHER'S SIGNATURE, 188 x 244mm., mounted, inscribed on the mount ("Very best wishes to Rt Hon Clement R. Attlee | Harry S. Truman"), in a silver frame engraved at the top centre with the Presidential seal (264 x 330mm.)

A GIFT MARKING THE "SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP". Attlee and Truman both took on the leadership of their countries towards the end of World War II and represented their nations at the Potsdam Conference in the summer of 1945, at which the settlement of post-War Europe was agreed with Stalin. In the years that followed, the two men saw the world descend into a new Cold War. The strength of the British-American alliance was shown in 1950 when Attlee committed British troops to fight in the Korean War. Although undated, this photograph is in a frame with a Presidential seal so was no doubt a gift whilst the two men were in office, but it was a personal gift with significant meaning to its recipient. A photograph of Attlee in retirement shows this photograph on display in his home.

For Clement Attlee, see also lots 253, 291, 293, 315, 316, and 348.