RARE WW1 AEF 9th IX Corps Isorel Masonite SSI Enameled Insignia Sign for Sale

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RARE WW1 AEF 9th IX Corps Isorel Masonite SSI Enameled Insignia Sign For Sale

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RARE WW1 AEF 9th IX Corps Isorel Masonite SSI Enameled Insignia Sign:
$495.00

This sign shows the shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) adopted for the US Army IX (9th) Corps during WW1. YOU WILL BE RECEIVING THIS SIGN ONLY, THE SET PICTURE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.From a nearly? complete set of signs that are shown in the third picture. This set consists of each of the shoulder sleeve insignia used by units from the 1st world war, and are a very hard, glossy paint that I am assuming is an enamel on a confirmed Isorel board painted black, and measures 12 x 12 inches (30.48 cm). They are separated by that thin black paper packaging so common in that era. I am certain that it is Isorel by the cross like pattern of the pressing on the back which matches the Isorel pattern exactly. Isorel was the precursor to Masonite, which was not patented until 1924 and did not begin mass production until 1929. This set was likely produced some time after the war as most units did not have an insignia until then.
About the set:
This is obviously a very rare set and I am confident that it was issued by a significant organization, maybe even the US Military given the quality of the signs. I have had speculation on what they could have been for and it has been suggested that they might have been for a veterans group, but I think that they might have been used more for design purposes, possibly by a company that was in the business of supplying the newly adopted insignia patches to the various units in the US Military. Each of the 85 signs in the set have a hole on the top and bottom of the sign which I believe would be used for mounting, and they appear to have been extensively used. I will be offering each sign for sale individually so please be sure to stay tuned to my other listings as these become available.
About IX Corps:
IX Corps was a corps of the United States Army. For most of its operational history, IX Corps was headquartered in or around Japan and subordinate to US Army commands in the Far East.Created following World War I, the corps was not activated for use until just before World War II almost 20 years later. The corps spent most of World War II in charge of defenses on the West Coast of the United States, before moving to Hawaii and Leyte to plan and organize operations for US forces advancing across the Pacific. Following the end of the war, IX Corps participated in the occupation of mainland Japan.The corps\' only combat came in the Korean War. It is best known for its exploits as a senior command of the Eighth United States Army, commanding front line UN forces in numerous offensives and counteroffensives throughout the war. The corps served on the front lines for most of the conflict and took command of several combat divisions at a time. Following the end of the Korean War, IX Corps remained in Korea for several years until it was moved to Japan. The corps spent almost 40 years as an administrative command of the US Army forces there, overseeing administrative functions but no combat. It was finally inactivated and consolidated in 1994. WW1X Corps was formed from November 25 to 29, 1918 in Ligny-en-Barrois, France, after the armistice so did not see combat. It was demobilized in France on May 5, 1919. IX Corps was subordinate to Second United States Army, and after moving its headquarters to Saint-Mihiel, and commanded forces along the armistice line between Jonville-en-Woëvre and Fresnes-en-Woëvre until its deactivation. Adelbert Cronkhite was the first corps commander, and William K. Naylor the first chief of staff. Subsequent World War I commanders included Joseph E. Kuhn.
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