IWO JIMA

Envelope bearing an image of Rosenthal's famous photograph of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, Signed and dated in the upper portion, "Joe Rosenthal / Associated Press / Photographer / Iwo Jima 1945". A banner appears across the image of the Marines and contains the text, "Iwo Jima / Attacked by 3rd, 4th & 5th Marines, February 19-21st 1945. After intense fighting the American flag was raised March 15, 1945. 4700 Marines were killed, 15,305 wounded - 20,000 Japs were killed."

The envelope is postmarked from Washington D.C. on July 11, 1945, and bears the commemorative 3¢ postage stamp of the photo of the flag raising, below which the First Day of Issue mark appears. The envelope measures 6 * inches wide by 3 * inches high.

Iwo Jima was the most difficult and costly battle of World War II. The raising of the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi was both a real and a symbolic victory. It followed several days of intense fighting. On the fifth day, when the flag appeared, everyone could see it. Ships in the harbor blew their whistles; cheers went up all over the island. It was the first time any nation had raised their flag on Japanese territory. Joe Rosenthal, the photographer, knew he had a good photograph, but he didn't know how good until it was developed on Guam. The photograph would become the most famous photograph of World War II. It symbolized the courage, bravery and indomitable spirit that was and still is American. Tragically, half of the soldiers seen raising the flag in the photograph died in the fighting, before it was developed. Almost immediately, the photograph became a poster, and a postage stamp, and ultimately, an inspirational monument.

Matted in cream and green, and framed in antiqued gilt. Framed dimensions are 13 inches wide by 10 inches high.

This item is associated with the following category in our inventory:

• World War II