Original Combat Maps of Tarawa Carried by Capt. John Murdock
Maps made by the US 2nd Marine Division during combat on Tarawa and Guadalcanal in WWII. Guadalcanal map has hand-written notations of front line and gun inplacements. They are framed. They belonged to my father-in-law, Capt. John Murdock (who is mentioned in the book Faithful Warriors by Steven Weingartner). He was wounded at Saipan. He was considered a hero because he saved the life of Welterweight boxer Barney Ross after his fighter plane crashed.
Tarawa 28" X 22". Guadalcanal 21" X 31"
Inherited
Yes
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
The Battles of Guadalcanal (1942–43) and Tarawa (1943) were turning points in the Pacific War, and the U.S. 2nd Marine Division played a crucial and often heroic role in both. Together, these battles marked the transition from defense to offense for Allied forces in the Pacific and tested — and proved — the strategy of amphibious assault that would define the remainder of the war.
The 1st Marine Division (under Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift) made the initial landings on August 7, 1942. The 2nd Marine Division, under Maj. Gen. Clayton B. Vogel, reinforced the effort in October 1942, relieving battered units of the 1st Division. The 2nd Marines took part in several key operations: the defended Henderson Field from repeated Japanese assaults; they engaged in the Battle of the Matanikau River and other jungle actions and they consolidated and held lines during Japanese counterattacks in late 1942.
I don't know how many of these maps were made or how many survive outside of museums but they certainly have historical value and, I'm sure, value to collectors of WWII ephemera and collectibles.
Other WWII Pacific theater maps have sold recently for between $150 and $500, with those with significant provenance earning towards the higher side of that valuation. Given their history with someone significant directly connected with both campaigns, the two maps, if offered together at auction, would probably sell between $800 and $1,000.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
World War II
Combat maps of the battles of Tarawa and Guadecanal,
Guadalcanal map has hand-written notations of front line and gun inplacements
Tarawa map: 28" X 22"
Guadalcanal map: 21" X 31"
CONDITION: with creases and some water stains visible
PROVENANCE: Owned by Capt. John Murdock, thence by descent in the family
$800-1,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
