Description:

Treaty of Versailles
n.p., ca. 1919
Early Proof, Bilingual "Conditions of Peace," AKA Treaty of Versailles, With Extensive Contemporary Margin Notes Possibly Made By Delegate
Annotated booklet
A bilingual French and English early proof ("épreuve avant le tirage définitif," or "proof before final printing") of the "Conditions de Paix / Conditions of Peace," a working document that would become the Treaty of Versailles. N.p., ca. 1919. The printed booklet features French text on the left, and English text on the right. It includes one fold-out map entitled "Eastern Boundaries of Germany." Parts VIII-X have been extensively annotated in pencil in the margins by an unknown hand, possibly by a treaty delegate. With its original wrappers. Expected wear consistent with age and heavy use, including heavy toning, wrinkling, and isolated loss or tearing to the spine and covers. The pages within are gently toned, else near fine. 8.25" x 12.625."

The Treaty of Versailles was signed by 66 signatories from 32 countries on June 28, 1919. Although the document was a peace treaty, it also outlined many punitive measures against the instigating party, Germany. Article 227, the controversial item stipulating that Emperor Wilhelm II could be tried by a special tribunal for "supreme offence[s] against international morality and the sanctity of treaties" can be seen in our copy on p. 201. Every imaginable post-war topic is discussed with the booklet, from the return of stolen artwork, to the commemoration of war dead.

The portions of the text treating the topic of German responsibility for economic losses - Part VIII, "Reparation," Part IX, "Financial Clauses," and Part X, "Economic Clauses" - have been pencil-annotated in the margins continuously from pp. 203-297. The annotations seem to compare the current version with an earlier "original" text. Notes remark on word changes, the addition of clauses, the changing of country names or Roman numerals, the rearrangement of paragraphs, or the status quo, i.e. "no change." The unidentified English-speaking notetaker of our booklet may have been a treaty delegate or other treaty participant; there were 17 English-speaking delegates from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand who signed the treaty. The identity of the scribe is definitely worthy of future research!

The fold-out map entitled "Eastern Boundaries of Germany" shows the demarcation of the following regions: East Prussia, West Prussia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Pomerania, Moravia, Silesia, and Austria. Expected wear including creasing, some breaks, and toning. The lower left corner of the map is separated from the remainder of the map but could be repaired. The map appears at pp. 48/49.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Medium: Annotated booklet

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