1940 U.S. Navy Blue Jackets Manual

The Bluejacket's Manual is the basic handbook for United States Navy personnel. First issued in 1902 to teach new recruits about naval procedures and life and offer a reference for active sailors, it has become the "bible" for Navy personnel, providing information about a wide range of Navy topics. The current version is the 24th Edition, issued in 2009.^{[1]  - Wikipedia}


This is a 1940's Blue Jackets manual that I found at an divorcee's yard sale. Her retribution was to sell everything her ex-husband left including divorce papers and a note that said, "Have it all, I'm leaving the country." His family had lived in the this house off of Sunset Blvd. since before the 1940's and that house had everything in it since then! If I had the money and the space, I would have filled my whole apartment at that time with it all. It was an amazing find and I had to begrudginly hold back. I'm a World War II collector as well so it was just my day. 

1940, 10th Edition

U.S. Navy Blue Jackets Manual

So this Blue Jackets manual belonged to J.H. Perkins, U.S.N.R  and when I opened the book, looking through the pages, all these old pay receipts fell out. It was great!  I'm still researching the owner. Would be nice to get a little story from the owner if any. The slips are money orders from the Naval Post Office, when sailors would often send money home. This was a very common thing for sailors to do during those hard times when everybody was paying a price for war. As it always is.

Money Order from Naval Post Office - sending money home