Magic Isles of the Coral Sea : Solomon Islands, A New Map in Detail
Russell Eugene Nicholls was born on August 6, 1910 to Grant Nicholls (1874-1940), and Cora Cooley (1886-1983) in Bryan, OH. He had two siblings, Wayne W. Nicholls (1921-2007) and Blaine Allen Nicholls (1925-?). He also had several half-siblings from his mother's first marriage to Fredrick Rupel (1874-1919): Bessie L. Rupel May (1909-2001), Ralph T. Rupel (1911-1983), and Rebecca E. Rupel (1914-2000). Russell attended United States Military Academy West Point, and graduated in 1935. He was attached to the Signal Corps in 1938. During WWII he served with the Signal Corps in the South Pacific, until in the fall of 1943, when it appears he was injured in the line of duty. He retired in Nov. 1945 with the rank of Lt. Col., before returning to active duty barely a month later to serve as an instructor at the Eastern Signal Corps School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. He retired for a second time upon the end of the war in May 1945. He married Marjorie Niven Gardner (1912-1981) in June 1935 in West Point, NY, and had two children. He died on November 11, 1984.
Sydney, Australia: H. E. C. Robinson Pty. Ltd., [1943-1945]. A map of the British Solomon Islands, specifically: Choiseul, Vella Lavella, Ganongga, Gizo, Kolombangara, New Georgia, Rendova, Tetepare, Vangunu, Gatukai, Santa Isabel Island, Florida Island, Malaita, Bougainville, Shortland Island and San Cristoval. The map shows a variety of government and missions stations, along with the villages and towns on the islands. Included are two insets and one location map. When the map is folded, there is a panel titled of "Magic Isles of the Coral Sea : Solomon Islands", with an illustration of one of the native tribesmen of the islands. Written in pen on the backside of the map is "Lt. Col. Russell E. Nicholls, Sig. [Signal] Corps". As such, based on the biography of Nicholls, this map was most likely given to him after he achieved the rank of Lt. Col. in 1943, while he was working as an instructor at Eastern Signal Corps School at Fort Monmouth, NJ. Large map with two insets and location map. OCLC 8 (Jan. 2021). Measures 29 3/4" x 20" General wear. Minor separation at folds.Price: $150.00
Item #28001043