The National Archives subsequently recovered a book containing more than 500 pages of daily logs from the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for the period March 1941 to June 1942.
National Archives. An entry for December 7, 1941, reads: “At 06:57, an unknown submarine (Japanese) attacked and was attacked and sunk at the entrance. At 07:55, Japanese aircraft and submarines attacked Pearl Harbor and other military and naval installations on Oahu.”
The man they contacted was Dan Whitmore, founder of Whitmore Rare Books in Pasadena. While his store typically sells first editions of literature or books on philosophy, science, and economics, Whitmore said the logbook was a “significant cultural object” and had caught his attention. However, he wasn't sure how much it would cost.
“I don't know exactly what the retail price will be,” Whitmore said. “It could be six figures.”
No compensation for the couple
There were also concerns that, despite the book's near-destruction, it was still technically state property. To clarify the legality of the book's purchase and sale, Whitmore contacted the National Archives.
“We didn't want to buy ourselves a problem or a headache, and we certainly didn't want to pass it on to potential clients,” Whitmore explained. “We wanted to make sure the National Archives wouldn't make claims against it.”
As it turned out, the National Archives staff actually considered the book government property, despite Canady having rescued it from the trash. So Bonds was asked to hand it over.
In return, he was given two National Archives T-shirts.
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
