Rare WWII Soviet LendLease Ship Christening Bottle&Master Shipyard Ledger Plaque For Sale

Rare WWII Soviet Lend-Lease Ship Christening Bottle & Master Shipyard Ledger Plaque Presentation Set (1944)Overview & Historical SignificanceThis is an extraordinarily rare, museum-quality World War II presentation set documenting a highly specific and short-lived chapter of global history: theU.S.–Soviet Lend-Lease Program.OnOctober 4, 1944, theSt. Louis Shipbuilding & Steel Co.launched and christened theAlexander Nevsky, a heavy-duty steel icebreaking tugboat built under U.S. military contracts specifically for the Soviet Union\'s war effort against the Axis powers. Named after the legendary 13th-century Russian hero and saint, this vessel was officially sponsored byMrs. E.M. Enslin(wife of shipyard co-founder Everett Enslin).This complete archival grouping represents the personal presentation set traditionally gifted to the ship\'s sponsor or a high-ranking shipyard executive.What Is Included in This Listing:

1. The Authentic Ceremonial Christening Bottle:The actual glass champagne bottle shattered by Mrs. E.M. Enslin against the ship’s bow on October 4, 1944. The glass remains perfectly intact, held together entirely by its original, tightly wovenred, white, and blue patriotic checkerboard ribbon sleeve. The neck still retains its large, festive presentation ribbons.
2. The Custom Hardwood Presentation Box:A fitted, dark-stained hardwood display case built specifically to house and protect the shattered bottle for posterity. It features its original metal closure latches and hinges.
3. Engraved Presentation Box Plaque:Affixed to the front of the wooden box is the original black-and-silver engraved builder\'s identification plate reading:
   • ALEXANDER NEVSKY / ST. LOUIS SHIPBUILDING AND STEEL CO. / OCTOBER 4, 1944 / MRS. E.M. ENSLIN, SPONSOR.
4. The Master Shipyard Ledger Plaque:A beautiful, heavy, hand-engraved circular brass master plate from the St. Louis Shipbuilding & Steel Co. detailing their entire wartime contract run from1943–1945.
   • The Center Emblem:Features a stippled engraving of an American Eagle perched atop a ship’s wheel with an integrated marine propeller.
   • The Fleet Roster:Engraved directory celebrating the named vessels built for the Soviets, including theAlexander Nevsky(phonetically etched here asAlexander Nefski),Admiral Naheemoff(Admiral Nakhimov),Ivan Soosanin,Alexander Soovroff(Suvorov),Micheal Kootoozoff(Kutuzov), and others. It also lists the U.S. Navy Yard Freight Lighters (Y.F. Nos. 601–604) built concurrently at the yard.
   • The Battle Honors:Etched down the center column are the iconic global campaigns where these classes of vessels were deployed to clear harbors and secure Allied logistics, includingKokoda, Gona, Buna(Pacific Front) andTunis, Mateur, Casablanca(North African/Mediterranean Front), alongside \"Str\'s\" (Strategic Straits).

Rarity & Collector’s Value Anchor

• Practically One-of-a-Kind:A ship can only be christened once. Onlyoneactual broken champagne bottle exists from the launching of theAlexander Nevsky.
• Complete Unbroken Grouping:While isolated bronze hull plaques occasionally enter the market, it is practically unheard of to find a vessel\'s intact ceremonial christening bottle, its original presentation case, and the shipyard\'s master brass ledger platestill kept together as a single, matching setafter more than 80 years.
• Niche Geopolitical Appeal:This set is a premier artifact for collectors of World War II home-front industrial history, Missouri/St. Louis regional maritime history, and rare U.S.–Soviet Lend-Lease military memorabilia.

Condition NoteThe set is in exceptional, untouched historic condition. The wooden case shows beautiful, natural aging and wear consistent with its 80+ year lifespan. The brass ledger plaque has a gorgeous, authentic aged patina with incredibly crisp, clear hand-stippled engraving. The christening bottle remains safely encased and stabilized within its original woven ribbon sleeve.

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