China, Republic. A Pair of Rare Signed Photographs of President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai Shek and First Lady Soong Mei-Ling

A pair of framed and signed photographs of the President and First Lady of the Republic of China, consisting of:

1. A large black-and-white photograph of Former President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-Shek. The photograph is fastened onto a white cardstock backer, which is signed with Kai-Shek’s military rank of “Brigadier General” (Generalissimo) along the right side, dated “June 12th, 52 Years of the Republic of China” along the top left side, and signed by Chiang-Kai-Shek with three Chinese characters oriented vertically, along with a red stamp of his office, along the bottom left. It is contained in a black wooden frame with a silver-tone outline along the interior, behind a pane of glass, with a medium brown paper backer. It can be wall-mounted via a twisted metal wire drawn horizontally across the rear of the frame. The frame is marked “Rich’s” on a silver-tone sticker on the reverse. It measures 378 mm (w) x 448 mm (l). The photograph is clear, free of smudges or blemishes of any kind, with light staining along the white cardstock border from age. The paper backer on the reverse depicts small age-related rips, tears, and holes. It is in overall extremely fine condition. 

2. A large black-and-white photograph of Former First Lady of the Republic of China, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (Soong Mei-Ling).  The photograph is fastened onto a white cardstock backer, which is signed with “To General and Mrs. Robert W. Blanchard Jr., with best wishes, *illegible* Chiang”. It is contained in a black wooden frame with a silver-tone outline along the interior, behind a pane of glass, with a cardstock backer lined with black textile material. It can be wall-mounted via a twisted string with a metal wire core. On the reverse are the remains of where a plastic stand used to prop up the frame. It measures 340 mm (w) x 420 mm (l). The photograph is clear, free of smudges or blemishes of any kind, and besides the broken stand on the reverse, is in near mint condition.