Japanese Pearl Harbor report auctions for $425,000 at Christie's

A Japanese report on the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack realised $425,000 at Christie's Fine Printed Books and Americana sale in New York on December 6.

The attack took place at 7:48 AM on December 7, 1941. Casualties were extensive, with 2,402 Americans killed and 1,282 wounded.

Japan Pearl Harbour report
The map was compiled by Fuchida aboard the aircraft carrier Akagi

A number of US ships were destroyed at anchor, with significant damage caused to infrastructure. The following day President Roosevelt declared war on Japan.

The report was compiled the day after the attack by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, the pilot who led the first wave of bombers with the infamous cry of "Tora! Tora! Tora!"

Titled "Estimated Damage Report against Surface Ships on the Air Attack of Pearl Harbor", the ink and watercolour map shows the damage sustained by the US fleet - with the positions of all vessels recorded.

It was presented to the emperor of Japan by Fuchida on December 26, who later recalled: "Standing directly across from His Majesty, I unfolded the layout in front of him and, pointing with my finger at the relevant places on the battlefield diagram, gave a blow-by-blow description of our battle achievements against the enemy ships...."

We have this photograph signed by Charles W Lindberg, one of the marines responsible for raising the flag on the island of Iwo Jima - which the US took in the closing days of the war in the Pacific.

The image has become one of the most  iconic in history.

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