The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

Lot comprised of two military dog tags identified to John B. Saucier, Jr. (1927-2017), SMSgt., United States Air Force, and more than 220 photographs assembled by Saucier while serving in Guam with the 453rd Signal Aviation Heavy Construction Company.

A native of New Orleans, John Baptiste Saucier, Jr., Senior Master Sergeant, USAF, served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He died in Bellevue, NE, at the age of 89. At the time of his death, Saucier was survived by his wife of 64 years, Felicia Saucier (1932-2021), who also served with the US Air Force, and six children.

Contents include:

Two military dog tags, each stamped "Saucier John B Jr.," with DOD ID number, blood type, and religious preference below.

12 x 10 in. album containing approx. 181 photographs ranging in size from 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 in. to 10 x 8 in., most mounted recto on 11 3/4 x 10 in. album pages (all pages fully detached from spine). Front cover with illustration and initials "J.B.S." (covers heavily worn, front cover fully detached from spine). Front free endpaper also identified to "John B. Saucier, USAF." Although most images are unidentified, they appear to have been taken while Saucier was stationed in Guam, ca 1948, and include a combination of formal and informal views of Saucier with his fellow soldiers at work and at play, as well as native subjects, landmarks, landscapes, and more. A sampling of images document the soldiers' work in Pole Line Construction, including a composite view with vignettes capturing the steps involved in the process. Also included are 48 loose photographs, most approx. 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 in., featuring additional snapshots of Saucier and fellow soldiers representing the 453rd and 474th Signal Aviation Heavy Construction Cos. at Harmon Field in Guam, ca 1948-1949. Some photographs are inscribed on verso, with certain subjects identified. In addition to Saucier, identified subjects include Freddie Gomez, Robert "Red" Johnson (474th), PFC D. Hickman, Sgt. Freddie Baker (453rd), "Machine Gun" Kelly (453rd), PFC Carlos Garcia, Sgt. Bob Fleming (453rd), PFC Johnny Dunham, PFC Howard Graves (453rd), and Roy Love. Images in varying conditions though most feature some toning or fading, and spotting, with wear to mount edges and corners.