Vintage fountain pen signature, “G. C. Marshall,” on a 7 x 9 sheet of War Department, Office of the Chief of Staff letterhead. The lower portion of the sheet and the adjacent leaf bear an ALS from a Marshall aide named Young to the aide’s daughter, Caroline, dated October 3, 1942. In part: “The autograph which you see above is the signature of General Marshall when it was being recorded on a machine. The machine will be used to sign thousands of letters of condolence to parents or wives of U.S. soldiers who are killed or wounded in this war. The fact that these letters are signed by a machine should be kept a secret but you can see that it would be impossible for Gen. Marshall to sign all of them personally and still direct this tremendous war….” Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. A very subtle hint of handling wear and mild soiling, otherwise fine, bright condition. A one-of-a-kind collecting association—and a remarkable commentary from the infancy of the modern autopen! R&R COA.
