American Historical Ephemera & Photography

GROVE, Edward R. (1912-2002), artist. 8 bronze medals from the WWII Medal Series, Presidential Art Medals, Inc., Englewood, Ohio. All 30 in the series were designed by Edward R. Grove. Each approx. 1.75 in., with a personality (or two) from the war on recto and a significant event on verso. 7 of the 8 here have their original box and information brochure. Medals include:  No. 1, Winston Churchill on recto and “Dunkirk, May 20 – June 4, 1940” on verso; No. 2, George VI and Queen Elizabeth on recto and “Air Battle of Britain, Coventry, November 15, 1940” on verso; No. 3, Franklin Delano Roosevelt on recto and “Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941” on verso; No. 9, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery on recto and “El Alamein, October 23, 1941” on verso (this medal missing its box); No. 12, General Sir Harold R.L.G. Alexander on recto and “End of the African Campaign, May 12, 1943” on verso; No. 16, General Carl A. Spaatz and General Henry H. Arnold on recto and “Air War over Europe 1942-1945” on verso; No 19, General Charles de Gaulle on recto and the “Liberation of Paris, August 25, 1944” on verso; and No. 22, President Harry S. Truman on recto and “V.J. Day, September 2, 1945” on verso.

[With:] Large 3 in. medal commemorating the bicentennial of the United States Navy, issued by the U.S. Mint. On one side is an eagle in flight (or just landing) with a flag on a staff in one foot and grasping an anchor in the other. Sailing ship under full sail in background. “Birth of the United States Navy, October 13, 1775” along bottom edge. Verso has “Bicentennial United States Navy 1975” and an atom, a submarine, an aircraft carrier with a plane launching and a battleship. Below is “Independence of Rights and Liberties.” -- Group of 3 medals relating to the space shuttle program. Each 1.5 in. in diam. In their individual plastic cases. First “The New Era of Space Exploration / U.S.A.” Verso with “Lousma / Fullerton / Kennedy Space Center / Columbia” with two views of the shuttle with its cargo bay door open and the arm extended – one side view (recto) and a view “head on” (verso). Second with “The Gem of the Galaxy / Columbia / Young Crippen / April 12, 1981.” Verso has “A Spaceship has Landed on Earth / April 14, 1981.” Third with “The New Era of Space Exploration / U.S.A.” on recto; verso with “Space Transportation System Flight Two / Columbia / Engel-Truly / November 12, 1981.”

[Also with:] “The Official Charles A. Lindbergh Commemorative Collection / International Aerospace Hall of Fame.” Group of 10 First Day Covers relating to Lindbergh. Issued to celebrate the 50 years since Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight (1927-1977). Postmarks 28 April to 21 May 1977. Many of the stamps are French. All caches are in color.