Roosevelt thanks a New Yorker for responding to the government's "Eyes for the Navy" appeal by sending binoculars used in yacht races in New York harbor. Accompanied by the actual binoculars and additional provenance. Archive Comprises:
(1) Typed Letter Signed "Franklin D. Roosevelt" as Wilson's Assistant Secretary of the Navy, one page, 8" x 10.25". Washington, December 13, 1917. To Mr. Chas. Lang, New York City. In full, "Your prompt and patriotic response to the NAVY'S call for binoculars, telescopes, and spy-glasses, is most appreciated. The glasses will be very useful in the prosecution of Naval Operations until victory is won. At the termination of the war, if possible, every effort will be made to return them to you, when it is hoped that you will feel compensated for any evidence of wear, by the knowledge that you have supplied 'Eyes for the NAVY' during a very trying period. On behalf of the NAVY, I wish to thank you most heartily." Folds, slightly creased. Discoloration on verso from newspaper article which had been clipped to the top of the letter, with light show-through and paper clip indentation. Fine condition.
(2) Original newspaper article from "The New York Times," November 24, 1917, 2.25" x 6.25", headlined "Navy Needs More 'Eyes'/Government Will Tag and Attempt/to Return All Borrowed Glasses." Accompanied by the retained 8.5" x 10.75" unsigned typed carbon on thin paper of the letter Lang sent to FDR, as per the article: "In response to call for binoculars, etc. for the Navy needs, I am sending under separate cover a pair of binoculars I will gladly donate and which I trust you can make use of." Paper clip indentation. Slight nicks at edge. Very good condition.
(3) Check from the "Treasurer of the United States," 8.5" x 3.25", payable for "One Dollars Only" to Charles Lang. Washington, D.C., January 25, 1918. Never cashed. Paper clip indentation. Fine condition. With printed undated mimeographed document, one page, 8" x 10.25", which accompanied the check. In part, "The enclosed check, payable to your order, in the sum of $1.00, is payment in full for article purchased from you by the NAVY. However, if practicable, at the termination of the war to return same to you, the $1.00 payment will then constitute the rental price..." Paper clip indentation. Partial separation at folds.
(4) Printed Certificate Signed "Franklin D. Roosevelt" in facsimile, one page, 8" x 11.75". Undated. Ornate vignettes, one created especially for the Navy's "Eyes for the Navy" appeal, "issued to C. Lang in recognition of the sacrifice made for the safety of our ships and the assurance of final victory." With original 12.5" x 9.25" Navy Department envelope. Fine condition.
(5) Typed Letter Signed "C.R. Miller," Captain, U.S. Navy/Commanding, 1.25 pages, 8" x 10.5", separate sheets. U.S.S. Cleveland, March 11, 1918. To Charles Lang. In part, "There has recently been received on board this ship a pair of low power binoculars No. 512, whose tag shows that they were loaned by you to the Navy Department in response to a recent call for contributions of instruments of this character. These glasses being particularly adapted for night use are always inservice whenever we are cruising...The CLEVELAND is at present assigned to very interesting duty. Although I cannot give you any details about the events in which we participate, a little information about the ship itself may be of interest to you..." Paper clip indentation. Fine condition. With original 8.75" x 3.75" envelope stamped "Passed by Censor Mar 14 1918." Between June 1917 and December 1918, the USS "Cleveland" made seven voyages into the Atlantic escorting convoys to mid-ocean meeting points.
(6) Retained two page 8.5" x 10.5" unsigned typed carbon on thin paper of the April 15, 1918 letter Lang sent to Miller, thanking him. In part, "the binoculars, which caused this correspondence, have been used in many interesting races on the sloop yacht 'Banzai' (belonging to my brother) one of the New York 'thirty' designs..." "Thirty" referred to the length of the yachts, in feet.
(7) The pair of binoculars first used aboard the sloop yacht "Banzai" in yacht races and then on the cruiser "Cleveland" in World War I. Illustrator Gordon Grant's "Will You Supply Eyes for the Navy" poster had urged Americans to send "binoculars and spy-glasses" to Roosevelt at the Naval Observatory in Washington, asking: "Will You Help Us 'Stand Watch' on a Destroyer?" Franklin D. Roosevelt resigned his seat in the New York State Senate to become President Wilson's Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1913-1920), serving throughout World War I. A unique opportunity to own binoculars, previously used in yacht races in New York harbor, then used by the Navy aboard a cruiser during World War I with provenance including a letter from FDR!