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OSS Agent Personal Collection
OSS Agent Personal Collection
OSS Agent Personal Collection
OSS Agent Personal Collection
OSS Agent Personal Collection
OSS Agent Personal Collection
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OSS Agent Personal Collection

  • The rare collection offers an unprecedented glimpse into the secretive life of Eli Popovich
  • Popovich was one of the nation's earliest OSS operatives and played a crucial role in war operations
  • The collection includes Popovich’s military insignia, personal photographs and critical documents
  • During World War II, Popovich was stationed on the Yugoslavian front
  • Get complete item description here
$64,500
Item No. 31-8642

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Description
This rare collection offers an unprecedented glimpse into the secretive life of Eli Popovich, an engineer, master parachutist and friend and collaborator to one of the most influential underground leaders during WWII, Josip Broz Tito. Despite his significant contributions to the war effort, he rarely spoke of his time as an operative. This collection includes Popovich’s military insignia, personal photographs and critical documents, each acting as a key to understanding this enigmatic individual.

Popovich. . .
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This rare collection offers an unprecedented glimpse into the secretive life of Eli Popovich, an engineer, master parachutist and friend and collaborator to one of the most influential underground leaders during WWII, Josip Broz Tito. Despite his significant contributions to the war effort, he rarely spoke of his time as an operative. This collection includes Popovich’s military insignia, personal photographs and critical documents, each acting as a key to understanding this enigmatic individual.

Popovich was one the nation's first OSS (Office of Strategic Services) members working in southern Europe. The OSS, the predecessor to the CIA, was a top-secret organization dedicated to undermining Axis powers through clandestine efforts. Through close coordination with Tito, Popovich was instrumental in crucial resistance operations in Yugoslavia between 1943 and 1945, including the arming and supplying of Yugoslav Partisan units, the tracking of German troop movements and the evacuation of Allied airmen. Popovich was also privy to top-secret meetings with Tito and other wartime leaders in the region, and his involvement in this pivotal Yugoslavian front undeniably diminished Axis strength in the region and shaped the post-war political landscape and humanitarian efforts.

Popovich's story was remarkable, with the unassuming engineer from Chicago remaining an active and distinguished member of the OSS and its successor, the CIA, until his retirement in 1969. Featured in multiple publications, including the 1975 bombshell Esquire article titled "Six Good Spies" by Lenn Davis and The Secret War by George C. Chalou, the details of his operative career remain largely unspoken, as Popovich was not one to disclose such information. Beyond his spike weapons cane from his estate going up for auction a few years ago, we can only speculate and continuously seek to uncover the depths of this important man’s bravery.

The collection contains:
Military-Issued Jacket: Featuring airborne patches and captain's bars
Patches and Pins:
Airborne patch
Master jump qualified patch
Jump qualified airborne parachutist patch
CBI, China, India Burma patch
US flag patch for left shoulder
Army Corps of Engineers pins (2)
U.S. Military pins (2)
Gold oak leaf pin denoting the rank of Major
Rank insignias
Campaign Ribbons
Military ID card (pink, indicating reserves)
ID card
Peking Club membership card (exclusive private society in Beijing, China) with a note indicating monthly membership was $2000/month
Training photo
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OSS Agent Personal Collection
Period: 20th Century
Origin: America
Type: Historical Memorabilia
Depth: 4.88 in. (12.38 cm)
Width: 42.88 in. (108.9 cm)
Height: 32.13 in. (81.6 cm)
OSS Agent Personal Collection
The American Identity: Legacy of Art and Patriotism

Amidst the United States' numerous transformations, challenges and progress, artists played a crucial role in identifying, narrating and expressing the ever-evolving ideals of this grand experiment. The creative minds of these visionaries gave...

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Buy with Confidence

At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.

Learn More

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The M.S. Rau Difference

The M.S. Rau Difference

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M.S. Rau is committed to offering fine art of the highest caliber and we seek paintings and sculpture by historically renowned artists, often with impressive provenance. The large majority of our works of art come from private collections; many are fresh to the market. Founded on Bill Rau’s expertise in the field, our specialisms range from Old Master pictures to Modern Art masterpieces. We regularly exhibit Dutch, Flemish, and Italian Old Masters, Academic, Orientalist, Barbizon, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Maritime & Sporting, British Neoclassical and American Illustration.

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For more than a century, M.S. Rau has offered clients a superb selection of the highest quality jewelry. From the rarest colored diamonds, to the most sublime gemstones, to the most exquisite designer jewelry, M.S. Rau houses an extraordinary collection of fine jewels to satisfy the most discerning collector. Stunning creations by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Patek Philippe are offered alongside extreme rarities such as vivid yellow, pink and blue diamonds, coveted Burma and Kashmir sapphires and elusive Golconda diamonds prized for their fire and perfection. Iconic jewels from the Art Deco, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods round out the collection.

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Since 1912, M.S. Rau has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful treasures has remained steadfast and our acquisition philosophy is simple: seek out and acquire only the very finest works whose provenance, beauty and rarity set them apart from all others. Our clients can be certain that each and every piece in our gallery has been hand-selected and carefully vetted for authenticity, condition and provenance. And, because our network of contacts spans generations, we are often able to acquire pieces that may have otherwise never been available on the market.

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