EXTREMELY RARE vintage 1944 World War Two Wartime Memorabilia – a two-sided Supreme Allied Command leaflet, written in French, and dropped by Allied airplanes over German occupied French-speaking areas, either in connection with the D-Day invasion, or in the subsequent Allied advance across France and Belgium. This authentic World War Two leaflet exhorts the French Resistance to support the Allied invasion effort – by damaging French railway, road and water transportation equipment and facilities used by the Germans. From its condition, it appears to be one actually distributed by the Allies in France.

As part of D-Day and the subsequent offensive across France, Belgium and the Netherlands, strategic leaflets such as this were produced by the Psychological Warfare Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces (PWD SHAEF), and dropped by Allied aircraft. The British called these leaflets "nickels," and the process of delivering them by aircraft became known as "nickeling."

How many other copies of this leaflet, communicating strategic instructions by the Supreme Allied Command to the French Resistance, that were actually dropped by air, have survived? My guess is, very, very few. At least I have never seen one before. We have no idea what something like this is worth. Feel free to make an offer, or let me know if you have seen any others.

This authentic piece of World War Two memorabilia came from the estate of Professor Roderick Caldwell - a Mathematics professor at the University of Rhode Island, and an Army veteran of World War Two – and his wife Winifred, a Professor of Speech Communications at the University of Rhode Island, who was born and raised in England, and worked in English hospitals during the War.

CONDITION: In excellent condition for its age. Two-sided leaflet has both vertical and horizontal folds across the center. Generalized age discoloration and small oil stains. Some wear along the folds, and small tears on the margins. All flaws are visible in the photos.