IWO JIMA. JOE ROSENTHAL

Envelope bearing an image of Rosenthal's famous photograph of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima.

An envelope postmarked July 11, 1945, with the imprint of the first day of issue, bearing four of the US postage stamps bearing the image of Rosenthal's photograph. In the left portion of the envelope is an imprint honoring the Marines with the image of a Marine, an American flag, and the Marine Corps symbol. "Hail to the leathernecks -- first in flight". Joe Rosenthal, who took the most famous photograph of World War II, has signed in the upper left "Joe Rosenthal / AP Photogr. / Iwo Jima / Feb 23, 1945". 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.

Framed (in a silver frame, with dark blue inner and outer mats) dimensions: 13 inches wide by 10 3/8 inches high.

This item is associated with these categories in our inventory:

• Military
• World War II