Lot #2172

George S. Patton Signed Photograph as “B[lood] & G[uts]” on Tank

Description

Elusive signed portrait of "B & G Patton" atop a tank in war-torn North Africa

Tremendous vintage matte-finish 12.5 x 9.5 photo of Lieutenant General George S. Patton standing in the hatch of a tank in North Africa during World War II, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “To Marian from B[lood] & G[uts] Patton.” Patton has signed the photograph on behalf of himself and his wife Beatrice to future Broadway star Marian Seldes (1928-1914). At the time Patton presented this photograph, Marian Seldes was a teenager. Her father Gilbert Seldes was a leading author and critic. In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, light overall creasing, and old adhesive residue and associated emulsion loss to the bottom.

This photograph dates to March-July 1943, not long after Patton received his third star and was promoted to lieutenant general on March 12, 1943. Patton is depicted atop an M5 Stuart light tank, which saw extensive action in North Africa, Italy, and Western Europe. The tank bears the insignia of I Armored Corps, which would be redesignated as the U.S. Seventh Army on July 10, 1943. Patton died as a result of a car accident months after the war’s end, in December 1945. He was the foremost American advocate and practitioner of armored warfare. Although signed Patton portraits are not entirely scarce, signed photographs of him on a tank are particularly rare—a true gem with massive display value.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Military and the Cold War
• Dates: #684 - Ended May 18, 2023

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