Official literature that was produced in the dark days of World War II to inform and comfort the public are to go under the hammer at a London auction house next week.
A selection of illuminating Home Front ephemera will be sold at Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions and Baldwin’s Military Sale on Wednesday November 6, almost 75 years after they were published.
During the early 1940’s there was a widespread and genuine fear amongst the British public that the Germans would successfully invade Britain. In response, The Ministry of Information, in co-operation with the War Office and the Ministry of Home Security, circulated literature, to inform and reassure the masses.
A spokesperson for the auction house said: "Although distributed widely these pamphlets were particularly focused on the South East of England. Discovered in a barn in Kent over 10 years ago, an astonishing find of 300 original Home Front leaflets from WWII comprise a large part of the lot. It is unusual to find leaflets in this quantity and condition."
Useful tips from the leaflet include: ‘Do not believe rumours and do not spread them…Most of you know your policemen and your A.R.P. wardens by sight, and you can trust them. If you keep your heads, you can also tell whether a military officer is really British, or only pretending to be so.’
The collection, which is estimated at £200-300, is part of a collection formed by Military Book Publisher, Lionel Levental of Arms and Armour Press. Mr. Levental spent much of his career collecting curiosities that related to the books he was publishing.
The auction, comprising medals, orders, decorations and militaria will take place at Dreweatts Maddox Street Saleroom in Mayfair at 10.30am on November 6.
