William Swainson

First extant draft copy of the Japanese ‘Instrument of Surrender’ in English, dated ‘Aug. 31, 1945’ and stamped ‘1945 AUG 31 1 20,’ prior to the official surrender ceremony aboard the ‘USS Missouri’ in Tokyo Bay, Japan, on Septebber 2, 1945.
1945 Draft of Japanese ‘Instrument of Surrender’ to Auction
An August 31, 1945, dated draft of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, the final iteration of which was signed aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, leads