Treaty of Versailles Archive Featuring Edition Presented to Gen. Tasker H. Bliss

Item Details

Treaty of Versailles Archive Featuring Edition Presented to Gen. Tasker H. Bliss. General Tasker H. Bliss (1853 – 1930) was a Commissioner Plenipotentiary for the United States, and a signer of the treaty. The archive includes a Special Edition (for presentation) Treaty of Versailles; a digital portrait print of Gen. Bliss in Washington D.C. (after Harris & Ewing, 1917); (2) typed letters signed (TLS); and ruled page featuring autograph signatures of Woodrow Wilson and other notable figures.

The Treaty of Versailles is complete and features four original fold-out maps. Included are Terms of Rhineland Occupation and the Polish Minority Treaty (agreements signed at the same time as the Treaty of Versailles). The treaty is housed in a custom leather clamshell case with gilt lettering and raised bands to spine.

Accompanied is a typed letter signed (addressed to General Bliss) on ‘American Commission to Negotiate Peace’ letterhead with embossed seal, stating this copy was prepared specially by the French Foreign Office. The letter and the treaty copy were delivered to General Bliss while he was at the Hotel Crillon (Paris), which is where the United States delegation stayed for the duration of their visit. The letter is dated July 30, 1919, approximately one month after the treaty was signed on June 28, 1919. The secondary typed letter signed appears on the letterhead of the Office of the Governor United States Soldiers Home Washington D.C. and dated February 12, 1925. The letter (three pages) is signed ‘Tasker H. Bliss’ in black fountain pen and measure 8 × 10.5 inches. The letter is Bliss’ reply for comment on whether the World War I armistice came too soon.

Also accompanied is an 8vo ruled page bearing six bold black ink signatures to recto; Woodrow Wilson (dated 7 January, 1919; in his hand), Edith Bolling Wilson (1872 – 1961), John J. Pershing (1860 – 1948), William G. Sharp (1859 – 1922), Alexander I of Yugoslavia (1888 – 1934) and Oscar Straus (1850 – 1926). The verso bears six additional signatures, some of which appear to be military figures. The signatures are reported to have been obtained by the French aviator Amedee de Flers (b. 1885), as noted to margin.

Condition

- loss to spine, lining, and covers; moderate edge wear with slight abrasions and paper loss; slight staining and discoloration to treaty.
- slight edge damage, discoloration, and paperclip staining to letter(s).
- slight points of discoloration or foxing to ruled page and matting.

Dimensions

- measures the archive case.

Item #

ITMGF36306