Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. Japanese propaganda leaflets were air-dropped and aimed at Allied soldiers. By featuring images of loved ones from home, it was hoped that these soldiers would be persuaded to surrender, especially given Japan’s military successes from late 1941 to early 1942. This is a tremendous example of what is considered the most rare and sought-after of these leaflets, which was actually taken and used as letterhead by a U.S. Marine!

The leaflet depicts an Australian soldier with a patched wound on his forehead holding a pack of Old Gold cigarettes and a loaf of bread, convincing soldiers that if they surrendered, they would be rewarded! Lifting the top piece shows the soldier with his hands raised and the wound on his forehead uncovered, to show the “before” and “after”. It measures 7 x 8⅛” when folded, and 7 x 10” when unfolded. The letter on the back reads:

April 3 - 1944 
 
Kay!
This is another one of their propaganda sheets,
in other words they figure that we should come to them
with our hands up in surrender, just so that we can get
cigarettes and bread. They must think that we are on the
point of starvation.

P.S. It will be a hot day in December and the devils in
hell will want ice water when they think they can whip
the Marines. 

This is a really tremendous piece, worthy of being framed with glass on both sides to highlight the significance of a U.S. Marine using a Japanese propaganda leaflet dropped on Australians to write a letter home. Comes ready for further research and display!