🪖 WWI Aerial Reconnaissance Map “C” – Fort Leavenworth KS – 36 Photos + Index – Maj. H.W. Baird – Linen-Backed
Original WWI-era aerial photo mosaic map compiled at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, featuring 36 black & white reconnaissance photographs arranged in a 37 × 28-inch linen-backed grid. Includes original key on reverse identifying St. Martin’s Church, Fairmount, East Fairmount, and Little Stranger. Inscribed “H.W. Baird, Major Cavalry,” a U.S. Army officer attached to the Military Information Division, Headquarters Philippines Division, Manila, P.I. Blue and red pencil markings on several photos indicate officer annotations during reconnaissance training or terrain analysis.
📸 Item Details
- Title: Pocket Aerial Photo Map “C” – Fort Leavenworth, KS
- Date: Circa WWI (1917–1919)
- Format: Linen-backed composite map
- Dimensions: 37 Ă— 28 inches
- Photos: 36 aerial reconnaissance prints (~6 Ă— 4.5 inches each)
- Medium: Black & white silver gelatin prints
- Inscription: “H.W. Baird, Major Cavalry”
- Reverse: Key identifying St. Martin’s Church, Fairmount, East Fairmount, Little Stranger
- Annotations: Blue and red pencil markings on various photos
🧠Historical Significance
- Fort Leavenworth was the U.S. Army’s premier officer training center during WWI, home to the Command and General Staff College.
- Aerial photo mosaics like this were used for terrain analysis, strategic planning, and intelligence training—marking the transition from traditional cartography to photographic reconnaissance.
- Named landmarks (churches, townships, creeks) provided reliable reference points for officers learning aerial navigation.
- Maj. H.W. Baird’s inscription ties this piece directly to the Military Information Division in Manila, P.I., strengthening provenance.
- Colored pencil markings are rare survivals, showing active officer use in intelligence work.
- Please Note: The final photo of the original 1918 memorandum from the Military Information Division, Manila, P.I. is shownfor reference onlyand isnot includedin this lot.
🧵 Condition Notes
- Linen backing intact with expected creasing and edge wear from field use and long-term storage.
- Photo clarity remains strong across most tiles; some minor fading and lifting at seams.
- Reverse key legible; pencil markings visible across several photos.
🎯 Collector Appeal
- Military historians (WWI intelligence, aerial reconnaissance)
- Fort Leavenworth collectors
- Cartography and photo-mosaic enthusiasts
- Museum curators and archival researchers
đź”– Provenance Guarantee
This item comes from a trusted seller specializing in rare books, militaria, and provenance-rich ephemera. All listings are backed by transparent condition notes and historical researchs.
đź“Ś Notes
- Over the next week, I will be listing more than two dozen additional WWI-era maps and reconnaissance artifacts.
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