George S Patton funeral book to auction with $30,000 estimate

The visitors' book from General George S Patton's funeral is to lead a sale of militaria at Alexander Historical Auctions in Chesapeake, Maryland.

The auction will take place on February 18, with the lot expected to make $20,000-30,000.

Patton visitor book funeral
  General Patton's funeral was attended by 200 mourners

Patton (1885-1945) was a popular US general known for his eccentricity and liberal use of colourful language.

His funeral took place in December 1945, after he was killed in a car accident on the outskirts of Speyer, Germany. Patton was buried in Luxembourg in a plot dedicated to the men of the Third Army whom he commanded.

The book features the signatures of around 200 mourners, ranging from close friends to soldiers who served under him.

It was consigned from the collection of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes (1888-1967), who organised the funeral.

An original watercolour by Adolf Hitler is another major lot, estimated to sell for $15,000-18,000.

Hitler watercolour Vienna Alexander
The watercolour was painted by Hitler in Vienna in around 1909

The scene depicts St Michael's Church in Vienna and is thought to have been painted in around 1909. During this time, Hitler was living homeless in the city after the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts rejected him in 1908.   

The painting exhibits the classic hallmarks of Hitler's style, including the muted colours and odd perspective, and is signed "A Hitler" to the bottom right.

A seascape painted by Hitler in 1913 sold for $53,000 at an auction in Slovakia in 2012.

We have this autographed typed letter by Winston Churchill for sale.

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