A 30 page booklet printed on heavy paper stock intended to introduce the 1st Marines to northern China, where they were posted immediately after the war. It was the 1st Marines the Effingham carried for most of its time as an amphibious troop transport.
From WorthPoint, the antiques and collectibles website:
” ‘A Marine’s Guide to North China’ prepared by Division Intelligence Section, First Marine Division in September, 1945, Printed by the Reproduction Section of the First Marine Division (in China?), 4 1/4″ by 6″, 25 pages plus three fold out maps (6″ by 7 1/4″), one of North China and the others of Tientsin (Tianjian) and Peking (Peiping). Japan surrendered in August, 1945 and U. S. [M]arines quickly moved to North China to help accept their surrender. This fascinating booklet is meant to help acculturate the marines; it tells about the weather, how to hire a ricksaw [sic] and bargain for curios. Interesting sections of customs such as funerals and weddings. Wonderful illustrated wraparound cover. This booklet is very, very rare with only two copies held in any US Library system, one of the two being the Marine Corps Research Center in Quantico, VA.”
Five copies have been sold on eBay for undisclosed prices. Amazon is selling several copies in Acceptable condition for around $550. Two copies, described as “new,” whatever that means for a seventy-five year old booklet, are also on sale for over $800.
Dad’s copy would be considered “like new” in Amazon’s terms and could probably be listed somewhere between those two amounts.
