A Japanese report on the attack on Pearl Harbor is estimated to make $400,000-600,000 at Christie's Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts sale in New York on December 6.
 Fuchida's map was prepared based on reports compiled aboard the aircraft carrier Akagi |
Commander Mitsuo Fuchida - the pilot who led the first wave of the attack and gave the legendary radio signal "Tora! Tora Tora!" compiled the report, titled "Estimated Damage Report against Surface Ships on the Air Attack of Pearl Harbor".
The attack took place on the morning of December 7, 1941 and killed 2,300 Americans, leaving 1,200 wounded.
Much of the US fleet was destroyed at anchor, and the following day President Roosevelt declared war on Japan - entering the US into the second world war.
The report was completed on December 8, one day after the attack, and was presented to Emperor Hirohito on December 26.
The map is painted in black ink and watercolour pigments, and features English translations by Fuchida himself.
A first edition presentation copy of Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) carries an identical valuation of $400,000-600,000.
 Books personally bound for James II are extremely rare |
Dating to 1687, the book was a gift to King James II (1633-1701), to whom it is dedicated, and features his personal binding.
James II was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1665, the year of its founding, and succeeded his brother Charles II as its royal patron.
Examples of books bound for the king are extremely rare. This is the first example of a copy of the Principia bound in contemporary morocco to auction in 47 years.
Another copy of the Principia will auction at Sotheby's London on November 27.
We have this letter to an ensign signed by Queen Anne, daughter of James II, who ruled Britain from 1702-1714.
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