🪖 WWI Linen-Backed Aerial Photo Map – Leavenworth, KS – 16 Photos + Legend – Major H.W. Baird
Original WWI-era aerial reconnaissance photo map, linen-backed for durability. Measures 25 × 19 inches and contains 16 black & white aerial photographs (~6 × 4 inches each). Reverse side includes a legend identifying key Kansas landmarks: Leavenworth, Lecompton, Pilot Knob, Greenwood, Hazel Deel, and Little Stranger. The name of Major \"H.W. Baird\" is handwritten on the back, tying this artifact directly to U.S. Army intelligence work during the First World War.
📸 Item Details
- Title: WWI Linen-Backed Aerial Photo Map – Leavenworth, KS
- Date: Circa WWI (1917–1919)
- Format: Linen-backed composite aerial map
- Dimensions: 25 × 19 inches
- Photos: 16 aerial reconnaissance prints (~6 × 4 inches each)
- Reverse: Legend identifying Kansas landmarks (Leavenworth, Lecompton, Pilot Knob, Greenwood, Hazel Deel, Little Stranger)
- Provenance: Name of Major \"H.W. Baird\" written on back
🧠Historical Significance
- Fort Leavenworth, KS was a premier U.S. Army officer training center during WWI.
- Aerial photo mosaics were used for terrain analysis, reconnaissance training, and intelligence exercises.
- Named landmarks provided reliable reference points for officers learning aerial navigation.
- Major H.W. Baird’s inscription strengthens provenance, connecting this piece to the Military Information Division in Manila, P.I.
- Please Note: The final photo is shownfor reference onlyand isnot includedin this lot.
🧵 Condition Notes
- Linen backing intact with expected creasing and edge wear from field use.
- Photos remain clear and well-preserved; some minor fading consistent with age.
- Reverse legend legible; officer’s name visible on back.
🎯 Collector Appeal
- Military historians (WWI intelligence, aerial reconnaissance)
- Fort Leavenworth collectors
- Cartography and photo-mosaic enthusiasts
- Museum curators and archival researchers
🔖 Provenance Guarantee
This item comes from a trusted seller specializing in rare books, militaria, and provenance-rich ephemera.
📌 Notes
- Over the next week, I will be listingmore than two dozen additional WWI-era maps and reconnaissance artifacts.
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