ALVA MATCHETT WORLD WAR I GEORGE V SOLDIER LETTER WITH PARIS POSTCARDS 1918

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ALVA MATCHETT WORLD WAR I GEORGE V SOLDIER LETTER WITH PARIS POSTCARDS 1918:
$119.99

ALVA MATCHETTWORLD WAR I GEORGE V SOLDIER LETTER MAIL PARISPOSTCARDS 1918. This sale is for avintage World War I letter given to each American soldier arriving in England to fight the enemy including this lettergiven to Alva Matchett of Swayzee, Indiana. The letter measures 5” widex 7 5/8” high and has the “Royal Coat of Arms” and “Windsor Castle” embossed inred at its top followed by a representation of the King’s handwriting thatreads “Soldiers of the United States, the people ofthe British Isles welcome you on your way to take your stand beside the Armiesof many Nations now fighting in the Old World the great battle for humanfreedom. The Allies will gain new heart & spirit in you company. I wishthat I could shake the hand of each one of you & offer you God speed on yourmission. It carries a copy of the king’s signature “George R.I.” and is dated“April 1918. The letter’s original envelope has a printed message at its topfront reading “A message to you from / His Majesty King George Vth.,” and onits flap is embossed his coat-of-arms. In addition, after handwriting on theenvelope “Soldier Mail. / Mrs. Alva Matchett / Swayzee,Ind. / U.S.A.,” and writing “Keep this forme. Alva” on at the bottom left corner of the letter, sent it to his wife in Indiana. Also includedis a Paris souvenir bound booklet (6” wide x 3½” high) of 20 postcard-stylephotographs featuring: The Opera House (where Alva wrote “Was here” on itsreverse); La Madeleine; Le Petit Palace; Place de la Concorde; Le PontAlexandra III; L’Arc de Triomphe; Le Trocadero; Le Dome des Invalides; Le TourEiffel (On reverse he wrote “Was here, highest tower in world. 1000 ft high”;Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel; Le Louvre et le Monument Gambetta; Chambre desDeputes; La Grande Roue; L’Hotel de Ville; Gare de Nord; Notre Dame; Place dela Republique; Gare de l’Est; La rue Scufflot et la Pantheon, and LeSacre-Coeur de Montmartre. On the flyleaf of the booklet Alva wrote “Sept. 2,1918 / Dearest One / Was in Paristoday to see about my eyes, since I have been wearing this new lid, I have aheadache every day when out in the sun. I wrote you Friday. Received a letterfrom Anna dated the 6th. Yours was dated the 4th. I amwell and hope and hope you are the same. I think that we will be going to thefront before long. Do not send me anything over here for I will never get it,so just keep all thing(s) there. I have never received the sweater you sentsome time ago. Will close with love.” Also included is a one day pass thatreads “General Headquarters A.E.F. / Permit To Visit Town / France Nov. 1st,1918. / (surname) Matchett, (Ser.No.) 715766 (Christian) Alva, (Grade) Engineer/ Organization 10th Anti-Aircraft Battery. / Duty as / Haspermission to visit in which these General Headquarters are located between thehouse &:30 A.M and 10 P.M. Good until Dec. 1, 1918. Harold G. Norris 1st.Lieut. C.A.C. Commanding.” The letter is in excellent condition for its agewith no tears or creases other than an original half fold when it was placed inits official envelope by George V’s staff. The envelope has age-related soilingand is intact other than a 5/8” tear on its top left folded edge and a ½” tearon its right side folded edge that, probably, occurred when Mrs. Matchettopened the flap to retrieve the letter in 1918. The Souvenir de Paris photobooklet is in very good undamaged condition with no noticeable tears or creaseson its black & white photographs. The onion-skin bound paper leaves that,originally, separated each print are, primarily missing while others are intactand some are loose with damaged edges. The town pass is intact and undamagedother than overall age-related toning. All three are in very goodcondition. (SEE IMAGE FOR ITEM’SDETAILS). Shipping is $4 within the U.S.only via Media Mail. E-Mail me yourdelivery address for international shipping costs prior to the sale’s close.See my other sales that can be combined to reduce postage costs. The winningbuyer agrees to send payment within 5 days of sale.